Pence 'expects our allies to keep their word' on NATO costs

Vice President Pence reassured the European Union on Monday of President Trump's commitment toward a continuing partnership but stressed the need for NATO members to "keep their word" and increase defense spending.

Pence is making his first trip abroad as vice president amid skepticism among European leaders over the direction of Trump’s foreign policies.

"Today it is my privilege on behalf of President Trump to express the strong commitment of the United States to continued cooperation and partnership with the European Union," said Pence, who met in Brussels with EU Council President Donald Tusk and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

Pence noted, however, that the U.S. provides more than 70% of NATO's funding. President Trump has demanded that European members increase their share of defense costs, ripping them in a speech Saturday for "not paying their bills."

"As our country continues to make investments in Europe's security, we see European countries falling behind," Pence said Monday. "I don't know what the answer is to "or else," but I know that the patience of the American people will not endure forever."

Stoltenberg said that, after years of declining defense spending, NATO's European partners agreed in 2014 to increase spending. He said spending rose 3.8% in 2016.

"This is not something that the U.S. is asking for," Stoltenberg said. "This is simply about all of us doing what we said we would do."

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Pence called on Europe to join the U.S. in intensifying efforts to fight terrorism, which he said would need more coordination between the EU and NATO. He described his talks in Brussels as constructive.

"Whatever our differences, our two continents share the same marriage, the same values, and above all, the same purpose — to promote peace and prosperity through freedom, democracy and the rule of law," Pence said. "We reaffirm our commitment to a free, fair and flourishing economies that undergird our success and a cooperation in achieving that."

Tusk thanked Pence “for being so open and frank with me” during the meeting, saying too much had happened over the past months “for us to pretend that everything is as it used to be."

“Today I heard words which are promising for the future, words which explain a lot about the approach of the new administration in Washington,” Tusk said in a statement.

“I asked the Vice President directly if he shared my opinions on three key matters: the international order, security and the attitude of the new American administration towards the European Union.”

Tusk said he told Pence his belief that maintaining order based on international law was in the interests of the West, that "our security is based on NATO and the closest possible transatlantic cooperation,” and that the EU is counting on the United States' “unequivocal support for the idea of a united Europe.”

“In reply to these three matters, I heard today from Vice President Pence three times ‘yes’!” Tusk said.

On Saturday, Pence tried to reassure international partners concerned that Trump may pursue isolationist tendencies, telling the Munich Security Conference that the U.S. "strongly supports" NATO. Pence also vowed to "hold Russia accountable” and said the U.S. would demand that Russia honor a 2015 peace deal agreed upon in Minsk, Belarus, aimed at ending violence in eastern Ukraine.

"While the United States will continue to hold Russia accountable, at President Trump’s direction we will also search in new ways for new common ground with Russia, which President Trump believes can be found," Pence said Monday.