Mattis, Stoltenberg discuss "equitable" cost-sharing for NATO

WASHINGTON, March 21 (KUNA) -- US Secretary of Defense James Mattis Tuesday met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss a key pledge of President Donald Trump - to have NATO members step up their funding of the organization.
According to the Pentagon, "The two leaders discussed ways to encourage allies to assume a more equitable share of alliance security and defense responsibilities," and Mattis "thanked Secretary General Stoltenberg for his leadership on this issue and applauded those allies already meeting the 2 percent of GDP defense spending benchmark." Also on the agenda was NATO's role in fighting terrorism and defeating the so-called Islamic State, along with its ongoing missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo, the Pentagon said. (end) ys.ibi