Trump urges Nato allies to pay more for their own defence, but pledges his devotion to pact

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US President Donald J. Trump (R) and Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) participate in a joint press conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington. Trump urged the alliance to meet its defence spending obligations. Photo: EPA

Published: 7:17am, 13 Apr 2017Updated: 7:54am, 13 Apr 2017

President Donald Trump, who said in January that Nato was “obsolete” and accused allies of delinquency, again demanded on Wednesday that they pay more for their own defence while reaffirming his commitment to the alliance as tensions rise between the US and Russia over the conflict in Syria.

“In facing our common challenges we must also ensure that Nato members meet their financial obligations and pay what they owe,” Trump said at a White House news conference after meeting with Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. “If other countries pay their fair share instead of relying on the United States to make up the difference, we will all be much more secure and our partnership will be made that much stronger.”

Trump’s position on Nato has evolved into a more traditional one for a US president, after he repeatedly questioned the value of the alliance and made overtures to Russia during his presidential campaign. On Tuesday, Trump supported the admission of Montenegro into Nato.

President Donald Trump pauses during a news conference with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the East Room at the White House in Washington. Photo: AP

Trump’s evolution was likely impacted by his decision last week to launch 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles against the Syrian government, a move that prompted backlash from Moscow, according to a US officials who briefed reporters Wednesday on condition of anonymity.

“Right now we are not getting along with Russia at all,” Trump said. “We may be at an all-time low with the relationship with Russia.”