Trump to Reiterate Commitment to NATO

President Donald Trump is now sounding all-in when it comes to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump will stress to the secretary-general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Wednesday that the U.S. is “100% committed” to the alliance and its expansion, said senior administration officials.

Mr. Trump will also repeat his calls for all NATO member states to increase military spending to 2% of their economic output to strengthen the alliance’s long-term capabilities.

“We expect the president will reaffirm the strong commitment of the United States to NATO and the value he places on the trans-Atlantic bond in general,” a senior U.S. official said about Mr. Trump’s planned meeting Wednesday afternoon with the secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg.

The White House’s rhetoric on NATO marks a U-turn from last year’s presidential campaign, in which Mr. Trump repeatedly questioned the long-term utility of the trans-Atlantic alliance.

But his administration has voiced growing support for NATO, particularly as relations with Russia have soured over the war in Syria and a range of other national-security issues.

This week, Mr. Trump formally approved Montenegro’s ascension to NATO, a move the Kremlin has vigorously opposed. And U.S. officials said the Trump administration could be open to support more countries joining the alliance.

“Montenegro’s membership will increase stability and security in the western Balkans,” said the senior U.S. official.

Referring to Russia’s opposition to Montenegro, the official said: “No third country has a veto over another country’s sovereignty.”

Trump administration officials said the president will also discuss Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine and the need to maintain Western sanctions on Moscow until it implements an international agreement calling for the demobilization of military forces there.

Mr. Trump and Mr. Stoltenberg will also discuss counterterrorism and NATO military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The two men are scheduled to hold a news conference this afternoon after their meeting.