No drama ahead? NATO issues statement on relations with the US
Photo: Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone (Getty Images)
Despite strong statements from US President Donald Trump's administration toward Europe, NATO does not see a crisis in relations and remains confident in the implementation of new defense plans, according to Bloomberg.
NATO Military Committee Chair Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone said that European allies are already responding to Washington's demands to increase defense spending and are moving toward meeting the Alliance's new targets.
According to him, NATO has a clear defense planning mechanism that will allow member states to gradually build up the necessary capabilities and reach the target level of 5% of GDP spending.
"We have a NATO defense planning process process to give us the capability that we need, and we will acquire that in time," Cavo Dragone said.
He also stressed that "as a military side" there are no "drama going on" in relations between NATO and the United States.
Commenting on recent incidents involving Russian drones violating NATO airspace, Cavo Dragone urged against overreacting emotionally.
His remarks came after a speech by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Shangri-La Dialogue forum in Singapore.
He noted that European and NATO countries must make a number of important decisions, without specifying what exactly they referred to.
Amid discussions about the future US role in NATO, reports previously emerged that Washington could reduce part of its military presence in Europe and shift more responsibility for the continent’s defense onto allies.
According to Spiegel, such plans are being described within the Alliance as a potential "turning point", as European countries would need to accelerate the buildup of their own defense capabilities.
