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A2 UP FRONT
Thursday 16 February 2017
Pentagon boss to NATO nations: Increase military spending

LOLITA C. BALDOR moted the idea of working values,” Mattis told the al- that sets dates for govern- er share of military costs,
Associated Press with Moscow, has added liance’s 27 other defense ments to meet a military even rattling European na-
BRUSSELS (AP) — In an ul- to speculation about how ministers, according to a funding goal of 2 percent of tions by suggesting the U.S.
timatum to America’s al- the U.S.-Russian relationship text of his remarks. “Ameri- gross domestic product. He might not defend allies un-
lies, Defense Secretary Jim might evolve. cans cannot care more for called the funding increase willing to fulfill their financial
Mattis told fellow NATO Amid the uncertainty from your children’s future secu- a “fair demand” based obligations as NATO mem-
members Wednesday to in- bers.
crease military spending by Mattis didn’t go that far,
year’s end or risk seeing the and Wednesday’s focus
U.S. curtail its defense sup- appeared to be on simply
port — a stark threat given increasing military fund-
Europe’s deep unease al- ing if not fully reaching the
ready over U.S.-Russian re- target. Many European
lations. governments face hostil-
Echoing President Donald ity to more military spend-
Trump’s demands for NATO ing, especially as their slow
countries to assume great- economic recoveries force
er self-defense responsibil- belt-tightening elsewhere.
ity, Mattis said Washington The United States is by
will “moderate its com- far NATO’s most powerful
mitment” to the alliance if member, spending more
countries fail to fall in line. on defense than all the oth-
He didn’t offer details, but ers combined. It devoted
the pressure is sure to be 3.61 percent of American
felt, particularly by govern- GDP last year to military
ments in Europe’s eastern spending, according to
reaches that feel threat- NATO estimates — a level
ened by Russian expan- that has somewhat ta-
sionism. pered off in recent years.
Trump’s Russia policy re- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, right, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis prepare Germany, by contrast,
mains a mystery for many of to address a media conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017. spent 1.19 percent of its
America’s closest interna- For U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, the next few days will be a reassurance tour with a twist. overall budget on defense.
tional partners. As a candi- (AP Photo/Virginia Mayo) Ten countries commit even
date, the Republican presi- less, and seven — including
dent steered clear of criti- Canada, Italy and Spain
cizing Moscow for its 2014 Washington, the Kremlin rity than you do.” on the “political reality” in — would have to virtually
annexation of Ukraine’s may be testing the West’s The entire alliance seemed Washington, an apparent double military spending to
Crimea region and repeat- resolve. A U.S. defense offi- to hang on Mattis’ every reference to Trump’s past reach the target. Luxem-
edly praised Russian Presi- cial said this week that Rus- word Wednesday. Officials criticism of NATO as “obso- bourg would require a four-
dent Vladimir Putin, saying sia has deployed a cruise crowded around televi- lete” and his much-touted fold increase to get close.
he wanted a new era of missile in violation of a Cold sions at the NATO meeting “’America First” mantra. Along with the U.S., the oth-
cooperation between the War-era nuclear arms con- in Brussels to watch the re- Noting the threat posed by er countries that do reach
former Cold War foes. trol treaty. And violence tired general’s initial ap- the Islamic State group in NATO’s benchmark for mili-
But that possibility grew has sporadically re-ignited pearance with Secretary- Iraq and Syria, Mattis said: tary spending are Britain,
murkier this week as Trump in eastern Ukraine, where General Jens Stoltenberg. “Some in this alliance have Estonia, Poland and debt-
fired his national security the U.S. and its partners say Defense ministers clustered looked away in denial of ridden Greece.
adviser, Michael Flynn, over Moscow continues to back around Mattis as he en- what is happening.” British’s defense chief, Mi-
the retired Army lieutenant a separatist insurgency. tered the meeting room. “We have failed to fill gaps chael Fallon, said Mattis
general’s communications “No longer can the Ameri- Citing danger from Rus- in our NATO response force appeared to welcome a
with Russia before Trump can taxpayer carry a dis- sia, Mattis told the closed or to adapt,” he added. British proposal to create
took office. The departure proportionate share of meeting of ministers they Trump has challenged the a road map for increased
of Flynn, who also pro- the defense of Western must adopt a plan this year alliance to take on a great- spending.q

Secretary of State Tillerson on the spot on 1st foreign trip

MATTHEW LEE and China, who will be many, Tillerson will come whether that business acu- developments with Russia,
AP Diplomatic Writer eager to seize on miscues face-to-face on Thursday men — which led to great its alleged meddling in the
BONN, Germany (AP) — or gaffes for their own ad- with Russian Foreign Min- profits for Exxon and Russian 2016 presidential election
U.S. Secretary of State Rex vantage. Tillerson arrived in ister Sergey Lavrov, a sea- President Vladimir Putin be- or its actions in Syria and
Tillerson has his work cut out Germany late Wednesday soned and wily diplomat stowing a friendship award Ukraine.
for him. for a meeting of the foreign who sparred, often suc- upon him — can translate Nonetheless, the eyes of
On his first overseas trip as ministers of the Group of 20 cessfully, with past U.S. sec- into success in a high-stakes many will be focused on
America’s top diplomat this nations. He will be playing retaries of state. diplomatic arena. Tillerson’s meeting with
week, Tillerson will face a defense amid the chaos President Donald Trump Tillerson has taken a low-key Lavrov for clues as to how
blizzard of questions about and turmoil caused by the chose Tillerson for the job and reserved approach in the Trump administration
the Trump administration’s firing of national security in part because of his busi- his first two weeks on the job intends to deal with Russia,
foreign policy from nervous adviser Michael Flynn for ness experience and rela- and declined the opportu- particularly given the reve-
Asian and European allies. misleading officials about tionship with Russia while nity to speak with reporters lations about Flynn and the
And there will be penetrat- his contacts with Russia. he was CEO of oil giant Exx- traveling with him. As Amer- various U.S. investigations
ing inquiries from America’s In Bonn, the Cold War capi- on Mobil. His meeting with ica’s top diplomat, he has into Russian activity before
watchful rivals like Russia tal of the former West Ger- Lavrov will be a first test of yet to comment publicly on the presidential election.q