Trump reaffirms 'unshakable commitment' to NATO, British PM says
Theresa May meets Trump in Washington in president's 1st first meeting with a foreign leader
British Prime Minister Theresa May saidU.S.President Donald Trump has reaffirmed both countries' "unshakable commitment" to the NATO military alliance.
Trump had rattled European allies by suggesting NATO is "obsolete" and that the United States might not come to the aid of countries that don't meet targets for their own defence spending.
May's comments after their meeting Friday are meant to put that concern to rest. She saidthe two also agreed it is important for member countries to "invest properly to face our shared challenges together."
Trump discussesMexico, Russia
Trump also acknowledged speaking with Mexican President EnriquePenaNieto, who on Thursday backed out of aplanned visit to Washington.
Trump hasissued an executive order declaring the U.S. will build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Trump and former presidentVicenteFox subsequentlyengaged in a Twitter spatover who would pay for the wall.Nietocancelled his visitshortly thereafter.
Trump said Friday he wanted to have good relations with Russia, but he declined to say whether he was ready to lift sanctions on Moscow, whichMay said must stay in place.
Speaking at a news conference after his first meeting with a foreign leader at the White House since becoming president, Trump said he hoped to have a "fantastic relationship" with Russian President VladimirPutin, but he said it was possible that would not occur.
Any move by the White House to lift sanctions against Russia for its actions in Ukraine would likely cause consternation among European allies who believe sanctions should be lifted only if Moscow complies with the West's conditions on Ukraine.
A number of high-profile Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, have said the sanctions should remain.
"As far as the sanctions, [it is]very early to be talking about that," Trump said.
May made clear Britain wants to continue sanctions until Putin carries out the requirements in a ceasefire agreement arranged in Minsk, Belarus, in 2014. This view is shared by European allies, who fear Putin could become more expansionist if he feels Trump will not intervene.
"We believe the sanctions should continue until we see the Minsk agreement fully implemented. And we've been continuing to argue that inside the European Union," May said.
Chummy with May
The boisterous Trump and reserved May took pains to demonstrate a readiness to maintain close ties between the United States and Britain, something that is particularly important for May as she steers Britain out of the European Union.
They posed for photos before a bust of Winston Churchill in the Oval Office and Trump accepted an invitation from the Queen to visit Britain this year.
The two leaders held hands briefly as they walked down the White House colonnade to their news conference in the East Room. Later, they lunched on beef short ribs in the State Dining Room.
At the news conference, Trump showed flashes of the pugnacious willingness to dispense with formality that helped him win the Nov. 8 election, registering his displeasure when a British reporter asked him what he had to say to those who are "worried about you becoming the leader of the free world."
"This was your choice of a question?" Trump said with a half smile. Then, nodding toward May as laughter erupted, he added: "There goes that relationship."
With files from Reuters
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