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| Nato 'bedrock' of US defence policy, says General James Mattis | Nato 'bedrock' of US defence policy, says General James Mattis |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| General James Mattis has expressed strong support for Nato during his first visit to Europe since becoming US defence secretary, describing the transatlantic alliance as a “fundamental bedrock” of his country’s defence policy. | |
| In remarks that appeared aimed at reassuring European allies unnerved by Donald Trump’s description of Nato as “obsolete”, Mattis said: “The alliance remains a fundamental bedrock for the United States and for all the transatlantic community.” | In remarks that appeared aimed at reassuring European allies unnerved by Donald Trump’s description of Nato as “obsolete”, Mattis said: “The alliance remains a fundamental bedrock for the United States and for all the transatlantic community.” |
| Speaking as the new US administration’s alleged links to Russia were coming under fresh scrutiny, he said: “As President Trump has stated, he had strong support for Nato.” | |
| Mattis, who was holding meetings at Nato headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, will attend the Munich security conference at the weekend. His visit will offer the first opportunity for European defence and security ministers to try to gauge the Trump administration’s plans. | Mattis, who was holding meetings at Nato headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, will attend the Munich security conference at the weekend. His visit will offer the first opportunity for European defence and security ministers to try to gauge the Trump administration’s plans. |
| Briefing defence correspondents during a flight from Washington to Brussels, Mattis adopted a more sceptical line towards Russia than Trump has so far. He spoke about the need for Nato to adapt to what he called the “watershed” year of 2014, when Russian involvement in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea meant that “many of our hopes for some kind of partnership with Russia were finally shown to be unavailing”. | |
| But he shared Trump’s call for an increase in European defence spending. Trump argues that the US is bearing too large a share of the Nato financial burden and that the other member countries should at least meet the target of spending at least 2% of their national GDP on defence. | |
| Nato says only the US, UK, Poland, Estonia and Greece have met the target. | Nato says only the US, UK, Poland, Estonia and Greece have met the target. |
| Mattis said: “A number of European nations already meet the 2.0 [%]. A number of others are clearly on a trajectory to get there and we have to have an open conversation among friends and allies about where we’re going and turn to that level of commitment.” | Mattis said: “A number of European nations already meet the 2.0 [%]. A number of others are clearly on a trajectory to get there and we have to have an open conversation among friends and allies about where we’re going and turn to that level of commitment.” |
| On Tuesday, the International Institute for Strategic Studies thinktank said in its annual military balance report that UK defence spending had fallen to 1.98% in 2016. The UK Ministry of Defence disputed this. | |
| Trump created alarm among other Nato members last year when he said the US might not automatically come to the defence of a fellow member under attack. | Trump created alarm among other Nato members last year when he said the US might not automatically come to the defence of a fellow member under attack. |