NATO Chief expects US to remain strong ally post-election
U.S. President Donald Trump meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, ahead of the NATO summit in Watford, in London, Britain on December 3, 2019. (Reuters Photo)
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed confidence on Thursday that the United States will continue to uphold its role as a steadfast ally, regardless of the outcome of the upcoming presidential election. His remarks come amidst heightened anticipation ahead of the first televised debate between President Joe Biden and his challenger, Donald Trump.
“I expect that regardless of the outcome of the US elections, the US will remain a strong NATO ally, because that is in the security interest of the United States,” Stoltenberg affirmed in an interview.
Stoltenberg underscored the mutual benefits of a robust NATO alliance, emphasizing, “A strong NATO is good for Europe, but also good for the United States.”
The upcoming debate marks a critical juncture in the presidential campaign, with former President Trump previously raising uncertainties about the US commitment to NATO. During his tenure, Trump publicly criticized NATO allies for insufficient defense spending and reportedly contemplated withdrawing American support from the alliance.
“The criticism from former President Trump has not primarily been against NATO. It has been against NATO allies not spending enough, and that has now changed,” Stoltenberg remarked, addressing past controversies.
Currently, NATO reports that 23 out of its 32 members are on track to meet the alliance’s defense spending target of two percent of their gross domestic product.
While expressing optimism about future US-NATO relations, Stoltenberg cautioned against undermining NATO’s core principles, particularly Article Five, which mandates mutual defense among member states.
“Article Five should never be questioned anyway, because that’s the core responsibility of NATO, and any attempt to undermine that credibility will just increase risks,” Stoltenberg warned.
President Biden and Donald Trump are set to debate key issues including national security in their televised matchup, shaping the discourse ahead of the November elections.
