Tillerson Delivers NATO Allies a Familiar Message: Pay Up
Tillerson said that Today, Russia’s ongoing hostility and occupation is compromising our shared vision of a Europe that is whole, free and at peace,
Along with the familiar rebukes, Mr. Tillerson also sought to reassure Europe
that the United States — despite comments from President Trump referring to NATO as "obsolete" — remains committed to an alliance that has kept the peace on most of the Continent for nearly 70 years.
Mr. Tillerson initially said that he would not attend this meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels
because it had been scheduled for next week, when President Xi Jinping of China would be visiting the United States.
Like Vice President Mike Pence and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis before him, Mr. Tillerson insisted
that all 28 members of the alliance spend at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product on their military, a level only a handful of members meet.
By GARDINER HARRISMARCH 31, 2017
BRUSSELS — Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson joined on Friday a growing list of Trump administration officials to visit the hub of North Atlantic solidarity
and scold the United States’ European allies, saying they do not spend enough on their collective defense.
