US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said that countering Russian aggression is on of the top NATO priorities.
In his first appearance at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Tillerson sought to assuage worries that the new US administration would seek closer ties with Russia at NATO’s expense.
"The NATO alliance is fundamental to countering both non-violent, but at times violent, Russian agitation and Russian aggression,” Bloomberg cited him as saying.
Tillerson stressed the top US national security priority is the fight against terrorism. He said NATO could contribute more, particularly in the area of cybersecurity. When he arrived in Brussels before the meeting, Tillerson said the other top US priorities were to ensure NATO has the resources it needs and to discuss its force posture, “particularly Eastern Europe in response to Russia’s aggression".
At the same time, Tillerson repeated demands that other alliance members meet pledges made in 2014 to spend 2% of gross domestic product on defense. Tillerson said NATO members should agree on it at a May gathering of their leaders.
