(VOVworld) – US Vice President Mike Pence has just toured Europe to assuage concerns over President Donald Trump’s recent comments. During the tour, Pence made it clear that Europe remains an “indispensable partner” of the US.

US President Donald Trump at a press conference in Washington DC on January 27 (Photo: AFP/VNA)

The relationship between the EU, NATO, and the US soured after President Donald Trump said in January that NATO is “obsolete” and that European countries refuse to pay their share of NATO spending. Trump also criticized German Chancellor Angela Merkel for her open-door policy on refugees, which he said opened Europe to terrorist threats from the Islamic State. He called Brexit a “great thing”, but said a trade deal between Europe and the US would be “good for both sides.”

Trump’s statements triggered a strong backlash from EU members and concerns about the US’s commitment.

During his presidential campaign, Trump many times slammed NATO members for failing to contribute enough to the NATO budget and letting the US pay their share. He vowed to renegotiate the US-NATO relationship.

Indispensable partner of the US

Vice President Pence is the highest-ranking official of the Trump administration to visit Europe. He was accompanied by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary James Mattis, and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly.

Pence’s Europe tour took him to the Munich Security Conference and then Brussels, where EU and NATO are headquartered. In each meeting and talk, the Vice President emphasized that the US respects and continues its previous commitments to Europe and shares with Europe the values of freedom, democracy, justice, and the rule of law. Pence reassured European allies by saying “the fate of the US and Europe were intertwined” and that ultimately they will “walk to the future together.”

The Vice President reiterated that the US is “unwavering” in its commitment to its transatlantic partner, calling NATO an important factor in ensuring a safe world which plays an important role in global peace and prosperity.

Pence said the US will hold Russia accountable for the Ukraine conflict and called on Russia to honor the Minsk agreement signed in 2015 and end the violence in eastern Ukraine.

European reaction

Mr. Pence’s soothing words have helped ease European fears. German Chancellor Merkel said her government will do its best to meet NATO’s requirement to spend 2% of GDP on defense by 2024. She called on all countries to work together to deal with global threats, saying Europe still needs the US in the fight against terrorism.

European officials urged the US to keep its promises. Donald Tusk, President of the European Council, said the US and EU should turn their commitments into action and waned against European division.

Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission, said the US needs Europe, strong and united in defense and other areas. He added he did not think that the moment has come to divide the US and the EU.

EU and NATO members, who had high expectations for Mr. Pence’s tour, are feeling relieved about the White House’ s foreign policy.