US Policy Toward EU Security Under Trump May Be More Demanding – OSCE Official

The United States' policy toward the European security is unlikely to change drastically, but it may become more demanding in terms of EU states' contribution to own security, former president of the Organization of Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly Ilkka Kanerva told Sputnik on Wednesday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Trump won the US presidential elections with 276 electoral votes against Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's 218 votes.

"I do not think that Trump’s policy towards the European security will change drastically compare to the [US outgoing President Barack] Obama’s policy. Of course, Trump made it sound more dramatic for publicity as it belongs to the election campaign. However, the US may be more demanding in terms of the European states’ contribution to their own security," Kanerva, who is the President Emeritus of OSCE PA, said.

Kanerva has also stressed the need for the European states to get in contact with Trump’s team as soon as possible.

Trump has repeatedly said that the United States would only support other NATO states if the allies "fulfilled their obligations" in respect to Washington. Only five NATO countries, including the United States, are currently meeting their minimum obligations to spend 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense.