US fights with Nato allies at birthday celebration
- US Vice-President Mike Pence delivers stinging rebuke both to Germany and Turkey
- The 70th anniversary comes amid rising concern over Russia
Tensions have soared between the United States and two of its Nato partners, Germany and Turkey, marring a 70th birthday celebration for the alliance aimed at showing a united front against a resurgent Russia.
“Germany must do more. And we cannot ensure the defence of the West if our allies grow dependent on Russia,” Pence told a think-tank forum on the Nato anniversary.
“It is simply unacceptable for Europe’s largest economy to continue to ignore the threat of Russian aggression and neglect its own self-defence and our common defence,” Pence said.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly voiced annoyance that few allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation are meeting a goal set by the alliance in 2014 to devote two per cent of GDP to defence.
