U.S. officials are seeking to assure an anxious Western bloc that President Donald Trump will reinforce American resolve to confront Moscow during the upcoming North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit and his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
NATO summit leaders will agree to strengthen deterrence and defensive capabilities to specifically address Russia’s efforts to “divide our democratic nations” and its violations of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison told White House reporters on a conference call Thursday.
The remarks come amid concern about Trump’s commitment to the alliance, which has been the bedrock of the U.S.-led post-World War II liberal world order since it was signed in 1949.
Recently, Trump sent sharply worded letters to leaders of several NATO allies, including Belgium, Canada, Germany and Norway, warning of U.S. impatience with their failure to meet defense spending goals.
At a political rally in the state of Montana on Thursday, Trump told the crowd he had bluntly told German Chancellor Angela Merkel, “I don’t know how much protection we get by protecting you.”
The president added that next week he would tell NATO members “you got to start paying your bills.”
NATO summit
Hutchison is downplaying the president’s admonitions.
“Sixteen of our allies are on track to meet” the pledge to spend 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense,” the ambassador said, pointing out that every ally is increasing defense spending but also noting, “we need to do more.”
Hutchinson’s immediate predecessor in Brussels, retired U.S. Army Lt. General Douglas Lute, told VOA, “There is only one big deliverable for any NATO summit: Unity and solidarity among all 29 allies. I trust Ambassador Hutchison’s judgment, but I also know allies are anxious given past experiences.”
Lute, senior fellow at the Future of Diplomacy Project at the Belfer Center of the Harvard Kennedy School, expresses hope that Trump “chooses to view the glass as half-full, with allies turning the corner on defense spending.”
One item not under consideration, Hutchison emphasized, is reducing the 32,000-strong American force stationed in Germany.
“I’ve heard nothing on that score,” said Hutchison, although U.S. officials have confirmed the Defense Department is evaluating the cost of repositioning U.S. forces in Germany, an action they describe as routine and not ordered by the president.
Trump, on several occasions, has strongly questioned the U.S. role in NATO.
Combined with the recent tensions between Trump and other leaders of the Group of Seven nations during their summit in Canada, a rift with NATO leaders next week is anticipated by some who worry that would benefit Putin, who is set to meet with Trump in Helsinki on July 16.
“The president’s priority is to protect the American people and American interests, including those of our allies and partners,” U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman said of the Trump-Putin summit. “We’re entering with our eyes wide open, but peace is always worth the effort.”
Trump-Putin meeting
Huntsman, speaking with reporters along with Hutchison on the conference call, added that the Helsinki summit itself is “a deliverable.” He also said a “concrete agreement” on a key issue, which he did not specify, could result.
The whole category of Russian arms control violations “will be prominent on the agenda” and “we’re holding them responsible for that,” Huntsman said.
It also is possible, Huntsman said, the two leaders will discuss a new treaty on control of strategic offensive weapons. The current such agreement, known as the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), is expected to last until 2021.
The one-on-one sit-down meeting between Trump and Putin will immediately be followed by an extended discussion involving their respective senior officials and then a working lunch, according to U.S. officials.
There will be significant scrutiny of Trump’s rhetoric during the talks concerning Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
The major intelligence agencies of the United States have clearly stated Moscow interfered in the election, seeking to benefit Trump and undermine his opponent, former Secretary of State and Democratic Party nominee Hillary Clinton.
Huntsman insisted Thursday that Trump will address the matter with Putin on July 16.
“The ball is in Russia’s court and the administration will continue to hold Russia accountable for its malign activities,” the ambassador told reporters.
At the Montana rally, the president said it is important to get along with countries such as Russia and China, and he predicted a smooth encounter with Putin.
“Putin’s fine, we’re all fine,” Trump said. “I’ll be prepared.”
After the NATO summit and before his talks with Putin, Trump is to visit England and Scotland. He is expected to meet separately with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Queen Elizabeth II.
The U.S. president is expected, at each stage of his visit to the United Kingdom, to be greeted by large-scale organized protests.
