BRUSSELS (AP) — The NATO chief urged allies on Tuesday to step up their defense spending, a day ahead of the first meeting between new U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and his 27 NATO counterparts in Brussels.
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested during his campaign that he might not defend allies who refuse to contribute their fair share. His comments have alarmed European nations, particularly those near Russia’s border, like Poland and the Baltic states of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.
“Fair burden-sharing and increased defense spending underpins the trans-Atlantic alliance,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters. “If we reduce defense spending …read more
Source: KXAN