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Boris Johnson takes issue with Trump over Nato stance Boris Johnson takes issue with Trump over Nato stance
(about 1 month later)
Boris Johnson, the British foreign secretary, has taken issue with the Republican US presidential nominee, Donald Trump, by emphasising the importance of Nato’s doctrine of mutual defence.Boris Johnson, the British foreign secretary, has taken issue with the Republican US presidential nominee, Donald Trump, by emphasising the importance of Nato’s doctrine of mutual defence.
Trump questioned the doctrine this week when he said he would weigh up whether other Nato members “fulfill their obligations” before deciding whether the US would protect them in the face of external aggression.Trump questioned the doctrine this week when he said he would weigh up whether other Nato members “fulfill their obligations” before deciding whether the US would protect them in the face of external aggression.
Related: Trump says US may not automatically defend Nato allies under attack
Johnson, speaking in Washington DC, insisted he was not getting involved in US politics but stressed the UK’s commitment to the policy of mutual defence.Johnson, speaking in Washington DC, insisted he was not getting involved in US politics but stressed the UK’s commitment to the policy of mutual defence.
He said: “I think that article five in the Nato treaty of 1948, the doctrine of mutual defence, is incredibly important. It’s something that I’ve repeated several times already just in the last week to various other countries, and my counterparts in various other countries around Europe, in the Baltic countries and elsewhere.He said: “I think that article five in the Nato treaty of 1948, the doctrine of mutual defence, is incredibly important. It’s something that I’ve repeated several times already just in the last week to various other countries, and my counterparts in various other countries around Europe, in the Baltic countries and elsewhere.
“It’s something that the British government believes in absolutely, fervently, and that we stand behind full square.“It’s something that the British government believes in absolutely, fervently, and that we stand behind full square.
“Fundamentally, it is the Nato treaty, that doctrine of mutual defence, that has guaranteed the peace in Europe for decades, and will do, I think, for decades to come.”“Fundamentally, it is the Nato treaty, that doctrine of mutual defence, that has guaranteed the peace in Europe for decades, and will do, I think, for decades to come.”
Britain is determined to maximise its involvement in Nato following the vote to leave the European Union, in part to show its commitment to internationalism is undimmed.Britain is determined to maximise its involvement in Nato following the vote to leave the European Union, in part to show its commitment to internationalism is undimmed.
Trump gave no guarantees in an interview with the New York Times that the US would come to the aid of the Baltic states if they were attacked, saying some of them had not paid their bills or fulfilled their obligations.Trump gave no guarantees in an interview with the New York Times that the US would come to the aid of the Baltic states if they were attacked, saying some of them had not paid their bills or fulfilled their obligations.
Trump’s remarks angered the Nato secretary general, Jan Stoltenberg, since they are thought to give encouragement to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.Trump’s remarks angered the Nato secretary general, Jan Stoltenberg, since they are thought to give encouragement to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin.
The Estonian president, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, also pointed out that its country met the commitment to spend 2% of its GDP on defence, and had made a full commitment to the war in Afghanistan without any caveats.The Estonian president, Toomas Hendrik Ilves, also pointed out that its country met the commitment to spend 2% of its GDP on defence, and had made a full commitment to the war in Afghanistan without any caveats.
Estonia is 1 of 5 NATO allies in Europe to meet its 2% def expenditures commitment. Fought, with no caveats, in NATO's sole Art 5 op. in AfgEstonia is 1 of 5 NATO allies in Europe to meet its 2% def expenditures commitment. Fought, with no caveats, in NATO's sole Art 5 op. in Afg
Johnson also highlighted UK plans to lead a drive to collect evidence for potential war crimes charges against members of the Islamic State terror group. The UK Foreign Office currently funds groups compiling evidence of war crimes against Bashar al-Assad and his supporters but has not been greatly publicising this workJohnson also highlighted UK plans to lead a drive to collect evidence for potential war crimes charges against members of the Islamic State terror group. The UK Foreign Office currently funds groups compiling evidence of war crimes against Bashar al-Assad and his supporters but has not been greatly publicising this work
since Assad may remain as the Syrian president in an interim transitional role. The threat of war crimes charges are unlikely to help persuade him to compromise on a peace deal.since Assad may remain as the Syrian president in an interim transitional role. The threat of war crimes charges are unlikely to help persuade him to compromise on a peace deal.
Johnson was in the US for a conference on combating Isis, where he also spoke out about the risk of fighters diffusing across the world as the group faces losses of territory in Iraq and Syria.Johnson was in the US for a conference on combating Isis, where he also spoke out about the risk of fighters diffusing across the world as the group faces losses of territory in Iraq and Syria.
Much of the conference was dedicated to preparing for an attack on Mosul, the densely populated northern Iraqi city held by Isis. There is concern for the political and humanitarian aftermath if Mosul is liberated, and the possible fanning out of radicalised fighters into Europe.Much of the conference was dedicated to preparing for an attack on Mosul, the densely populated northern Iraqi city held by Isis. There is concern for the political and humanitarian aftermath if Mosul is liberated, and the possible fanning out of radicalised fighters into Europe.
A US-led coalition claims to have driven Isis out of nearly 50% of the territory that it once controlled in Iraq and 20% of territory in Syria. The Washington conference was told by Brett McGurk, the US special envoy on countering Isis, that the capture of Mosul was the ultimate test for the coalition.A US-led coalition claims to have driven Isis out of nearly 50% of the territory that it once controlled in Iraq and 20% of territory in Syria. The Washington conference was told by Brett McGurk, the US special envoy on countering Isis, that the capture of Mosul was the ultimate test for the coalition.
Johnson said: “We’ve got to deal with the whole cancer and its ability to spread and to metastasise, to pop up all over the world in the way that we’ve been seeing,” he told television reporters afterwards.Johnson said: “We’ve got to deal with the whole cancer and its ability to spread and to metastasise, to pop up all over the world in the way that we’ve been seeing,” he told television reporters afterwards.
“There are thousands of them and we need to start setting in train the process of gathering evidence, of getting more witnesses, so that ultimately they can be prosecuted and held to account for their crimes against humanity and that’s something that I said today to everybody and got a large measure of support.”“There are thousands of them and we need to start setting in train the process of gathering evidence, of getting more witnesses, so that ultimately they can be prosecuted and held to account for their crimes against humanity and that’s something that I said today to everybody and got a large measure of support.”
The UK has been taking a leading role in trying to combat Isis on the internet. The Americans point to a recent study by the US Global Engagement Center indicating that anti-Isis content on the internet now far exceeds that supporting it.The UK has been taking a leading role in trying to combat Isis on the internet. The Americans point to a recent study by the US Global Engagement Center indicating that anti-Isis content on the internet now far exceeds that supporting it.