The US Vice-President, Mike Pence, has warned Nato members that they must boost their defence spending targets. Speaking in Brussels, he said that US could lose patience with Nato members if they did not share the burden of defence.
Mike Pence also declared that US remained committed to co-operation and partnership with the European Union (EU). Mike Pence and Donald Trump want Nato countries to increase military spending.
Donald Trump's comments on Brexit and the Nato have unsettled allies. He has described Nato as "obsolete", and criticised countries which fail to meet the target of spending 2 per cent of their economy on defence.
EU leaders are worried because of Trump
Donald Trump is also seen as friendlier to Russia than former US presidents, and some of his former aides are under scrutiny for their alleged links with Russia. Trump has dismissed the European Union as "a vehicle for Germany" and spoken out in favour of Brexit.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has stated that the US needs a strong, united European Union. He added that this is not the moment for Europe to divide itself into former national, provincial categories.
Mike Pence made comments on different issues
The vice-president has been in Brussels, Belgium, for talks with Mr Juncker, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, and Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council. Mike Pence said Nato countries had to meet the 2% defence spending goal quickly. He added that the patience of the American people will not last forever and wants EU countries to take action.
Pence declared the US would continue to hold Russia accountable over the Ukraine war, but he stated that President Trump believed that relations with Russia could improve. Pence was asked if he opposed further disintegration of the EU, he answered that the US shared a "deep heritage" with EU countries and were committed to co-operation.
