Prensa. voanews.com
U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis has told European allies that
American security is tied to that of Europe, describing NATO’s principle of
collective defense as a ‘bedrock commitment’. He made the comments at the
Munich Security Conference, where heads of state and delegates from across the
world are gathered at a time of global uncertainty.
“Transatlantic unity buttresses European unity. A fact we recognize in
the context of cooperation between NATO and the European Union,” Secretary
Mattis told delegates, adding that “American security is permanently tied to
the security of Europe. Done correctly, European initiatives and NATO unity are
mutually reinforcing.”
U.S. President Donald Trump last month labeled NATO as obsolete. But
Mattis said the president had now thrown his full weight behind the alliance –
although he repeated the demand that Europe shares more of the financial
burden.
Preserving international order
“Standing on the bedrock of our NATO alliance, 28 democracies help
preserve the rules-based international order,” Mattis said. It is that
international order that many delegates in Munich say is at risk – and many pin
the blame mainly on Moscow. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will speak
at the Munich conference Saturday. NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
welcomed further dialogue.
"Russia is our biggest neighbor and especially in times with more
military activity along our borders, with high tensions, I strongly believe
that there is the need for dialogue between NATO and Russia,” he told reporters
Friday. More U.S. troops and military hardware arrived in Latvia and Romania
this week, part of the biggest NATO reinforcement since the end of the Cold
War.
European allies have been reassured by the warm words that Secretary
Mattis had for the transatlantic alliance. But many delegates also say that
they would like to hear those same words from President Trump himself.