NATO President Mark Root and the new American ambassador attempted to reassure the European allies on Thursday that Washington would remain committed to the Western Military Alliance, despite the harsh words of President Donald Trump.
They made the statement while NATO foreign affairs ministers They met in Brussels with the Europeans in the hope that Foreign Minister, Marco Rubio, to dispel doubts about the American position, even with increasing tensions about A highly declining commercial tariff Trump.
European belief in the United States as the final continent’s protector against any Russian attack that was severely shaken Trump tried to converge With Moscow and strong pressure on Kyiv while seeking to end the war in Ukraine.
In addition, Washington said frankly to European countries in recent months He can no longer focus mainly on the safety of the continent And that they will have to spend more in defense.
Trump’s governmental words and deeds have raised questions about the future of NATO, the via Atlantic bloc that has been the basis of European security in the past 75 years.
Root said before the foreign ministers meeting that the United States does not have plans to remove its military presence immediately in Europe, despite the requirements that European countries are interested in defending them.
“But we know that for America the superpower is, they need to attend more theaters. It is really logical that you have this discussion, and we have been discussed for this discussion for many years.”
Matthew Whitaker, who started as a new permanent representative of the United States on Thursday (3), said he started work “at a critical moment in the history of the coalition.”
“Under President Trump’s leadership, NATO will be stronger and more effective than ever,” he said in a statement. “But the vitality of the coalition depends on every ally to make its fair role.”
European ministers must also use the meeting to try to influence Trump negotiations began With Russia about the war in Ukraine, which caused Moscow’s invasion in 2022.
The senior NATO diplomat said that there is an annoyance between the Europeans because they have not yet participated in the basic negotiations of European security.
“It is difficult to swallow this, but it is a reality of life,” he said, on the condition that his identity does not reveal.
