Nato’s secretary-general has responded to Donald Trump‘s criticism of the organisation by reminding him that member states came to the aid of the US after 9/11.
Jens Stoltenberg’s intervention comes after the US President-elect sparked alarm across Europe by calling into question the bedrock Nato doctrine of collective defence during his campaign.
The head of the western alliance insisted that Europe and the US need to stick together as they face the greatest security dangers for a generation.
“The only time Nato has invoked its self-defence clause, that an attack on one is an attack on all, was in support of the United States after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
“This was more than just a symbol. Nato went on to take charge of the operation in Afghanistan. Hundreds of thousands of European soldiers have served in Afghanistan since.
“And more than 1,000 have paid the ultimate price in an operation that is a direct response to an attack against the US.
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