Washington, US President Donald Trump is set to discuss burden-sharing and security issues with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on November 14 at the White House, according to an official statement.
The President and Stoltenberg are also scheduled to discuss the NATO allies’ progress on increasing defence spending and ensuring “more equitable burden-sharing”, Xinhua news agency quoted a White House statement as saying on Saturday.
Trump will also stress the importance of strengthening the alliance’s defence and deterrence against various threats, including terrorism and cyber-attacks, it added.
Trump is expected to visit London next month to attend the NATO Leaders’ Meeting to commemorate the alliance’s 70th anniversary.
The Trump administration has repeatedly complained about NATO allies’ free-riding on the US military.
Besides, there were disagreements within the alliance over the Iran nuclear issue, Turkey’s operations in northern Syria as well as abrupt US decision to withdraw troops from northern Syria.
French President Emmanuel Macron said in a recent interview that the alliance was experiencing “brain death” because of a lack of strategic coordination and leadership from the US.
