On final overseas trip, Obama reassures Europe
Outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama was in Greece Tuesday, bringing to Europe much sought assurances about the U.S. commitment to NATO under the presidency of Donald Trump. Before leaving the United States, Obama said President-elect Trump told him he intends to maintain America’s core strategic relationships.
Athens is the first stop on Obama’s last foreign trip as president.
After talks with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Obama praised Greece for its financial commitment to NATO.
“I want to take this opportunity to command Greece on being one of the NATO allies that spends 2% of its GDP on defense, a goal we’ve constituently set but not everybody has met. Greece has done it during even difficult economic times. If Greece can meet this economic commitment, all of our allies should be able to do so,” he said.
Earlier, Obama stressed that a “strong, prosperous and unified Europe is not only good for the people of Europe but good for the world, and good for the United States.”
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