NATO says it's not preparing for an unlikely US withdrawal

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says he’s absolutely convinced the U.S. will remain in the military alliance and it has made no preparations for an unlikely U.S. withdrawal because doing so would send a signal that it could happen.

Stoltenberg made the comments in an interview while visiting New Zealand on Tuesday. He says there is strong bipartisan support for NATO in the U.S. and words are being matched by deeds as the U.S. increases its military presence in Europe.

The New York Times reported earlier this year that President Donald Trump had privately said several times in 2018 that he wanted to withdraw from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Stoltenberg says, however, that Trump’s message about allied nations needing to spend more on defense is having an impact.