Politico: Tillerson Gets Applause at NATO Debut

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson got a warm welcome in his NATO debut on Friday, Politico Europe reports.

Tillerson spoke of the need for strength and unity in dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and also expressed firm support for NATO.

"The U.S. commitment to NATO is strong and this alliance remains the bedrock for trans-Atlantic security," Tillerson said at NATO headquarters in Brussels. "The NATO alliance is also fundamental to countering both nonviolent, but at times violent, Russian agitation and Russian aggression."

He added: "The United States is committed to ensuring NATO has the capabilities to support our collective defense. … We understand that a threat against one of us is a threat against all of us, and we will respond accordingly."

One European NATO ambassador said he was surprised with Tillerson’s message considering Trump’s comments at one point calling NATO "obsolete" and Secretary of Defense James Mattis and Vice President Mike Pence's demand to NATO in February that allies increase military spending.

"I'll be honest, we didn't know what we were getting into," the ambassador said, adding: "Boy, did he deliver: he was very, very clear about the United States standing by its allies. In fact, unlike Mattis, who if you remember conditioned his support for the alliance, Tillerson's support was unconditional."

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