US defense secretary James Mattis arrived in Brussels for two days talks with defense minister in the region. Speaking at the NATO headquarter in Brussels, Mr. Mattis called the NATO his second home and assuaged the leaders, who are worried of the commitments of the new US administration under President Donald Trump, who has been critical of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) during his presidential campaign. This was the first visit by any top official to the NATO since the Trump administration took power last month. Member states of the NATO have looked to the visit of Secretary James Mattis, who once held one of the most senior military posts in the NATO, for the vision ahead. Speaking to the concern of the officials, Mr. Mattis said, “The alliance remains fundamental bedrock for the United States and for all the Trans-Atlantic community, bonded as we are together. As president Trump has stated, he has strong support for NATO.” However, he reminded the call of the US President to all NATO members to pay their fair share.        “It’s absolutely appropriate, as a European minister of defense said last week, it’s a fair demand that all who benefit from the best defense in the world carry their proportionate share of the necessary cost to defend freedom……….And we should never forget: ultimately it is freedom that we defend here at NATO. I do have confidence that we will prove once again that we can react to the changing circumstances. We’ve done so in the past. There’s every reason for confidence that we will move purposefully together, once again.”

While many media outlets keep on criticizing President Trump for his NATO comments, it has been a huge success for both NATO and the United States that members who haven’t paid their commitments are finally preparing to clear the dues.