Washington’s Way to European Hearts

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited the United States from 11-13 April 2017. On the 12 April 2017 he met US President Donald Trump for their first face to face meeting.

In this pre-visit commentary Tomas Valasek said that the NATO secretary general should use the meeting to convey important messages on terrorism and defence spending.

Report of the meeting between US President Trump and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Washington, 12 April 2017
The two leaders agreed that NATO should enhance its role in the fight against terrorism and continue working towards fair burden-sharing in the Alliance. These will be key topics addressed at the May 2017 summit meeting of Allied leaders in Brussels.

Following their meeting, Mr. Stoltenberg welcomed the very strong commitment of the United States to the security of Europe, and underlined the importance of the transatlantic bond. He said: 'In a more dangerous and more unpredictable world, it’s important to have friends and Allies. And in NATO, America has the best friends and the best Allies in the world'.

President Trump said 'I said it [Nato] was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete'.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Security Autonomy for Europe? (ELN Commentary, April 2017) http://www.europeansources.info/record/security-autonomy-for-europe/

ESO: Background information: NATO, Russia, Merkel, Brexit: Trump unleashes broadsides on Europe / European leaders react to Trump bombshells http://www.europeansources.info/record/nato-russia-merkel-brexit-trump-unleashes-broadsides-on-europe-european-leaders-react-to-trump-bombshells/

ESO: Background information: Why Trump's wrong on NATO: A response to Jonathan Power http://www.europeansources.info/record/why-trumps-wrong-on-nato-a-response-to-jonathan-power/

Politico, 11.04.17: NATO’s top mission: Preparing for Trump http://www.politico.eu/article/secretary-general-jens-stoltenberg-nato-top-mission-preparing-for-us-president-donald-trump-defense-counter-terrorrism/

Politico, 10.04.17: NATO secretary-general’s two-day trip to US http://www.politico.eu/article/nato-secretary-generals-two-day-trip-to-us/

NATO: Press Release, 12.04.17: NATO Secretary General arrives in Washington to meet President Trump http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_143133.htm

NATO: Press Release, 13.04.17: Secretary General: NATO is a bedrock of security for both Europe and North America http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_143217.htm

Deutsche Welle, 14.04.17: [Opinion]: How long will Trump's love for NATO last? http://p.dw.com/p/2bD5O

ESO: Background information: Meetings of NATO Defence Ministers, 15-16 February 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/meetings-of-nato-defence-ministers-15-16-february-2017/

ESO: Background information: Can NATO Convince Trump? (Carnegie Europe, February 2017) http://www.europeansources.info/record/judy-asks-can-nato-convince-trump/

France24, 13.04.17: Trump reverses rhetoric: NATO 'no longer obsolete' http://www.france24.com/en/20170413-trump-nato-no-longer-obsolete

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