BRUSSELS, April 1 (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will visit Washington next week for a "long-planned" visit, a spokesperson for the military alliance said on Wednesday. "I can confirm
NATO chief to visit Washington next week as Trump threatens exit from alliance
NATO Secretary-General's Upcoming Visit Amid Alliance Tensions
By Andrew Gray and Trevor Hunnicutt
Background of the Visit
BRUSSELS/WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will visit Washington next week for what a spokesperson for the military alliance called a "long-planned visit" that comes after President Donald Trump blasted European allies over differences on the Iran war.
Official Confirmation
"I can confirm that the Secretary General will be in DC next week for a long-planned visit," NATO spokesperson Allison Hart said. A White House official also confirmed the visit.
Details of the Trip
No further details of the trip were immediately available.
Trump's Criticism of NATO Allies
Trump said he was considering pulling the U.S. out of the Western military alliance due to the refusal of European members to send ships to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
Remarks at the White House
In remarks on Wednesday to allies gathered for an Easter lunch at the White House, Trump criticized France and the United Kingdom, among other U.S. allies, as a “paper tiger."
History and Role of NATO
NATO, which includes European countries, the U.S. and Canada, was formed in 1949 with the aim of countering the risk of Soviet attack and has been the cornerstone of the West's security ever since.
Trump's Further Comments
“We've had some very bad allies in NATO,” Trump said. "Hopefully, we're never going to need them. I don't think we will need them."
(Reporting by Andrew Gray and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by David Gregorio)
