Trump says committed to NATO as allies up spending

US President Donald Trump addresses a press conference on the second day of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit in Brussels on July 12, 2018. (AFP)
  • Alliance Secretary-General says Trump鈥檚 actions have made NATO stronger
  • Donald Trump says the United States' commitment to NATO 'remains very strong'

BRUSSELS: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States鈥� commitment to NATO 鈥渞emains very strong鈥� after a summit in Brussels at which he said allies had made unprecedented commitments to increase spending on their own defense.
鈥淣ATO is much stronger now than it was two days ago,鈥� Trump told reporters, describing an unscheduled crisis meeting of the 29 alliance leaders on Thursday morning as 鈥渇antastic鈥� and having 鈥渁 great collegial spirit.鈥�
鈥淭he US were not treated fairly but now we are. I believe in NATO,鈥� Trump told a press conference after the fraught NATO summit in Brussels.

Later alliance Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told a press conference that Trump鈥檚 actions had made NATO stronger.

Asked about a closed-door meeting in which officials said Trump told allies to reach a NATO target or the United States would "go it alone", Stoltenberg said: "We had a very frank and open discussion... That discussion has made NATO stronger. It has created a new sense of urgency," he said.

"The fact that we had this open discussion has also clearly stated that we will redouble our efforts and it also shows that a clear message from President Trump is having an impact."