ZERO HEDGE - HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE TRUMP, MERKEL CALL: NATO, TERRORISM, MID-EAST CONFLICTS, RUSSIAN RELATIONS

Highlights From The Trump, Merkel Call: NATO, Terrorism, Mid-East Conflicts, Russian Relations

by Tyler Durden
Jan 28, 2017 3:49 PM

Concluding a busy Saturday, in addition to speaking on the phone to Japan's prime minister Abe, and Russia's president Putin calling for "establishing real coordination of U.S. and Russian actions in order to defeat ISIS and other terrorist groups in Syria” as well as discussing the importance of "restoring business ties", Trump also prepared to sign three also on to sign three executive orders dealing with the reorganization of the NSC, focusing on cyberthreats to the US and a crackdown on ISIS, and spoke on the phone with German chancellor Angela Merkel.



In their first conversation, Trump and Merkel covered "a range of issues, including NATO, the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, relations with Russia, and the Ukraine crisis."  Both talked about “importance” of close German-U.S. cooperation for security and prosperity and the desire to “deepen” already close German-American relations in future.

Trump, Merkel also agreed on NATO’s importance, and that the alliance must be able to counter new threats. U.S., Germany agreed that common defense depends on “appropriate investment” in military capabilities to ensure all members are contributing their “fair share.”

Finally, Trump accepted Merkel’s invitation to G-20 summit in Hamburg, Germany in July and looks forward to receiving the Chancellor in Washington soon

The full White House readout of the conversation is below.

READOUT OF THE PRESIDENT'S CALL WITH CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL OF GERMANY

President Trump and Chancellor Merkel today held an extensive telephone conversation covering a range of issues, including NATO, the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, relations with Russia, and the Ukraine crisis. Both leaders affirmed the importance of close German-American cooperation to our countries' security and prosperity and expressed their desire to deepen already close German-American relations in the coming years. The President and Chancellor also agreed on the NATO Alliance's fundamental importance to the broader transatlantic relationship and its role in ensuring the peace and stability of our North Atlantic community. In this vein, the leaders recognized that NATO must be capable of confronting 21st century threats and that our common defense requires appropriate investment in military capabilities to ensure all Allies are contributing their fair share to our collective security. The leaders agreed on the need to strengthen already robust cooperation in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, and to work to stabilize conflict areas in the Middle East and North Africa. The President accepted the Chancellor's invitation to attend the G-20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany, in July, and said he looked forward to receiving the Chancellor in Washington soon.

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