NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte met with President-elect Donald Trump in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, marking their first meeting since the U.S. elections earlier this month.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the international security alliance reported that the discussions covered a "range of global security matters," which also included talks with the incoming White House national security team.
Rutte's visit follows years of criticism of NATO from Trump, who once called the organization “obsolete.” It also comes amid the former president’s concerns over the failure of many of the constituent nations to meet defense spending commitments mandated by the 75-year-old treaty.
In February, Trump remarked during a speech in South Carolina that he would even "encourage" Russia to "do whatever the hell they want" to nations not in financial compliance.
Additionally, Trump has shown hesitation toward providing further military assistance to Ukraine, a stance many NATO members may find troubling.
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