Nato talks amid protests, Trump in Brussels
Nato talks amid protests, Trump in Brussels: President Trump is meeting EU leaders. The President had been critical of both Nato and EU blocs. President Trump’s request for Nato to join the US led coalition against Islamic State. It is expected that President Trump might also pressurize to pay their full financial share.
On the other hand the European leaders will seek assurances of President Trump’s commitment to US allies. Donald Tusk who is the President of European Council tweeted: “I’ll aim to convince POTUS [President of the US] that euro-atlanticism means the free world co-operating to prevent post-West world order.”
After the President landed in Brussels on Wednesday 25th, May, 2017, The President met the Belgian king and queen while thousands were demonstrating against his presence in the centre of the city.
Earlier, The President had been granted a short private audience with the Pope at the Vatican.
The Nato gathering will see that the alliance agree to a US plan for Nato to take a bigger role in the fight against Islamist militants. Specially the jihadist group Islamic State (IS), however France and Germany insist that the move is symbolic.
Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had said: “Today we will decide to expand our support to the coalition with more AWACS [Airborne Warning and Control System] flight time, more information sharing and air-to-air refuelling.This will send a strong political message of Nato’s commitment to the fight against terrorism and also improve our coordination within the coalition but it does not mean that Nato will engage in combat operations.”
The US had asked for Nato to join the anti-IS coalition as Nato, however there are concerns that this could lead to the alliance becoming involved in post conflict Iraq or Libya as it did in Afghanistan.
President Trump had voiced criticism of other Nato countries for spending less on defence than an agreed 2% of national output.
Before today’s meetings, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had told the reporters that President Trump “really wants to persuade Nato members to step up and fully meet their obligations.” The secretary of state further added “I think you can expect the president to be very tough on them and say… ‘We are doing a lot. The American people are doing a lot for your security, for joint security. You need to make sure you’re doing your share for your own security as well, That’s going to be the core of his message to Nato.”
Talking about the Paris climate change decision, Mr Tillerson said that President Trump had yet to make a final decision on whether the US would remain in the Paris climate agreement.
Before his arrival to the Nato HQ, where President Trump will deliver a short speech, President Trump is due to have a private lunch with new French President Emmanuel Macron after meeting he meets with the leaders of the European Commission and European Council.
French President Macron is expected to try to persuade President Trump not to renege on the Paris climate accord.
For More News:
Visit HumSub TV