WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence demanded Monday that NATO allies meet their obligation to increase defense spending and refocus on counter-terrorism in his first address to the alliance.
“The president of the United States and the American people expect our allies to keep their word and to do more in our common defense,” Pence said a press conference at NATO in Brussels. “And the president expects real progress by the end of 2017.”
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, said he supports the US demands and is optimistic progress will be made. All 28 NATO members agreed in 2014 to the goal of spending 2 percent of their GDP on defense.
The US, Great Britain, Poland, Greece and Estonia have met the target — but other nations have not.
“I expect all allies to make good on the promise they made in 2014 to increase defense spending to make sure we have a fairer burden sharing,” Stoltenberg said at a press conference aside Pence.
Both leaders were pressed whether Trump really believes in NATO, despite past vocal criticism calling the alliance “obsolete.”
Pence said he’s speaking on behalf of the Trump, while Stoltenberg said he’s received personal assurances from Trump over the phone on his commitment to NATO.
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