![\"Nato3\"](\"http:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/Nato3-300x169.jpg\")
AFP, BRUSSELS: NATO allies will show \u201ctransatlantic unity\u201d in their first talks with new Pentagon boss James Mattis on Wednesday, the alliance\u2019s chief said against a backdrop of concerns about US President Donald Trump\u2019s commitment.<\/p>\n
Defence Secretary Mattis has voiced support for NATO in contrast with the sceptical Trump, and has been tougher on Russia than his boss, whose views worry the alliance\u2019s eastern European member states in particular.<\/p>\n
Mattis\u2019s visit has been overshadowed by the resignation of Trump\u2019s national security adviser Michael Flynn over allegations he had discussed US sanctions with Russia\u2019s ambassador before taking office.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am absolutely certain that the message from this meeting will be a message of transatlantic unity,\u201d NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg told journalists as he arrived for the two-day meeting in Brussels.<\/p>\n
Stoltenberg said they will also stress \u201cthe importance that we stand together and protect each other and a very strong commitment of the United States to NATO.\u201d<\/p>\n
His comments came after he was asked whether Flynn\u2019s departure over his behind-the-scene contacts with Russia was a sign of chaos in the Trump administration. Mattis said on the flight to Brussels that Flynn\u2019s departure would have \u201cno impact\u201d on the US message to NATO. The retired Marine general praised the alliance for its enduring help for the United States in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis has been the most successful alliance in military history,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Also hanging over the meeting was a New York Times report that Moscow had deployed a new cruise missile, raising fears it would violate the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).<\/p>\n
Like the US State Department, the NATO chief said he would not comment on intelligence matters but warned that \u201cany non-compliance of Russia with the INF treaty would be serious concern for the alliance.\u201dDespite the message of unity, Mattis is still set to push the rest of the 28-nation group to meet their increased military spending pledges, despite many in Europe facing hard economic times.<\/p>\n
In a sign that the Trump administration\u2019s pressure on the issue is bearing fruit, Stoltenberg said on the eve of the meeting that boosting spending was a top priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important thing is that we increase defence spending and that is exactly what we are doing,\u201d Stoltenberg told reporters at alliance headquarters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AFP, BRUSSELS: NATO allies will show \u201ctransatlantic unity\u201d in their first talks with new Pentagon boss James Mattis on Wednesday, the alliance\u2019s chief said against a backdrop of concerns about US President Donald Trump\u2019s commitment. Defence Secretary Mattis has voiced support for NATO in contrast with the sceptical Trump, and has been tougher on Russia […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":30730,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[44,14],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n