US Commitment to NATO 'Transcends Politics', Will Not Change Under Trump – Kerry

The change of the US administration won't affect the "unwavering commitment" of Washinfton to its NATO obligations, Secretary of State John Kerry said Tuesday at a meeting in Brussels of alliance members’ minsters.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States’ commitment to NATO will not change under the presidency of Donald Trump, Kerry said.

"I made the point to my colleagues that the change of an administration in the United States will not change the unwavering commitment of the United States to these ideals or our NATO obligations," Kerry stated. "The United States’ commitment to NATO and to Article 5 transcends politics."

Article 5 of the alliance’s founding treaty specifies that under the doctrine of collective defense, an attack against one NATO country is also an attack against all of its allies.

Trump repeatedly said during his presidential campaign that Washington should review its relationships with NATO allies and insist that they pay more of the cost for having their security guaranteed by the United States.

Kerry pointed out that only five NATO members – the United States, the United Kingdom, Estonia, Greece and Poland – spend the recommended 2 percent of their respective economies on defense.

The United States contributes about $500 million a year to the alliance, or about 22 percent of NATO's commonly funded budget.