NATO chief downplays concerns over new US strategy, affirms American commitment to alliance

By Anadolu staff

BERLIN (AA) - NATO chief Mark Rutte on Thursday downplayed concerns over the new US national security strategy document, emphasizing that the Trump administration remains committed to the alliance.

Speaking at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, Rutte said the allies are aware of US President Donald Trump's expectations and have taken steps to increase their defense spending and assume more responsibility.

"As NATO secretary general, of course my main focus is to make sure that the alliance, as a whole, is safe. When I, through that lens, look at the US national security strategy, it clearly states that the US is committed to Europe," Rutte said.

“And the US is committed to NATO. It also acknowledges that for the whole of the alliance to stay safe, you need a strong cooperation within NATO, between the European allies and Canada and the United States,” he added.

The new US national security strategy document, released last week, outlined the Trump administration's priorities in foreign and security policy. It focused on the Indo-Pacific region while rejecting European governments' characterization of Russia as an "existential threat.” The document also had a critical view of accepting new NATO members, stating it is time to move away from viewing NATO "as a perpetually expanding alliance."