Germany’s Foreign Minister on Monday said US President-elect Donald Trump’s comments that NATO was obsolete had aroused concern across the 28-member alliance.
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, speaking after a meeting with alliance Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, in Brussels, said Trump’s remarks contradicted views expressed by designated Defence Secretary, James Mattis.
He spoke also of “amazement”.
Steinmeier said: “I have spoken today not only with EU foreign ministers but NATO foreign ministers as well and can report that the signals are that there has been no easing of tensions.
“Obviously the comments from President-elect Trump, that he views NATO as obsolete, were viewed with anxiety.”
Trump, who is due to be sworn in as president on Friday, said NATO was obsolete because it had not defended against terrorist attacks.
He said also he had always had “great respect” for German Chancellor, Angela Merkel.
He, however criticised her 2015 decision to allow in a wave of a million migrants as a “catastrophic mistake” that opened the door to terrorist attacks.
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