Brussels, Dec 6 (CTK) – The U.S. approach to NATO and Russia will not fundamentally change after Donald Trump’s inauguration as president, Czech Foreign Minister Lubomir Zaoralek said on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting yesterday, which is the last attended by outgoing U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.
Both NATO-Russia and U.S.-Russia relations have cooled down as a result the Ukrainian crisis, and NATO is currently reinforcing the protection of its eastern wing.
The ministers are discussing NATO-Russia relations at an informal dinner in Brussels tonight.
Trump, the U.S. president-elect, made the European allies uncertain during his election campaign when he indicated his readiness to strike agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin and hinted that the USA may not fulfil its commitments towards the allied countries that do not spend enough on defence.
Zaoralek yesterday pointed out Trump’s choice of James Mattis as the new secretary of defence.
“He has a very good reputation in NATO,” Zaoralek said, referring to Mattis.
Mattis headed the NATO transformation command in Norfolk, the USA, for several years, and he is well-acquainted with NATO’s agenda.
The choice of Mattis confirms that NATO and the USA, a NATO member, will adhere to the same principles like now, Zaoralek said.
“I do not expect anything to change dramatically, regardless of the ongoing debate in this respect,” Zaoralek said.
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