President Joe Biden is preparing to talk tough on China and Russia when he meets with NATO allies on Monday as he seeks to rebuild transatlantic ties that were frayed during the Donald Trump years.
'I want NATO to know America is there,' Biden told Secretary General Jean Stoltenberg at the start of Monday's conference.
The president used the meeting to reaffirm America's commitment, calling NATO 'essential for America.'
And he reiterated the threat China and Russia pose to all members of the alliance.
'There is a growing recognition over the last couple years that we have new challenges. We have Russia, which is acting in a way that is not consistent with what we had hoped, and we have China,' he said.
President Joe Biden meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a NATO summit at its headquarters in Brussels
President Joe Biden is preparing to talk tough on China and Russia when he meets with NATO allies
Biden reaffirmed America's commitment to the alliance
Biden is using his first trip to Europe as president to rally allies to his side as he works to counter Beijing and Moscow's economic might, their cyber threat and a threat to national security. He has emphasized the countries' shared interest in democracy as a means to combat the authoritarian stance of Russia and China.
On Monday, Biden kicks off his day with meetings with the leaders of Baltic states to discuss the threat posed by Russia and China. And he'll hold a private meeting with the president of Turkey, Tayyip Erdogan. Biden will meet Tuesday with European Union leaders as well as visit Belgian King Phillipe.
NATO leaders welcomed the new American president.
'I welcome the fact that we have a president of the United States who is strongly committed to NATO, to North America and Europe, working together in NATO,' Stoltenberg said.
The president stressed the United States had a 'sacred obligation' to the 30-member alliance and the principle of collective defense, stressing America's commitment to Article 5.
Trump refused to reaffirm NATO's Article 5 - which says when one member of the alliance is attacked, it is treated as if all members were attacked. And he complained about the amount of dues America paid to the alliance.
But Biden said he will 'make the case that we are back' when he speaks to allies and will defend the alliance.
'We do not view NATO as sort of protection racket. We believe that NATO is vital to maintaining American security for the remainder of the century,' the president said at a press conference in England on Sunday after he finished the G7 summit.
He reaffirmed the American commitment to Article 5.
'Remember what happened on 9/11. We were attacked. NATO immediately supported us,' he said. 'We believe NATO and Section 5 is a sacred obligation. Bottom line is I think we made some progress in re establishing American credibility among our closest friends.'
Additionally, the White House said the communique that will be signed by NATO members at the end of the summit is expected to include language about updating Article 5 to include major cyber attacks.
American companies and the federal government have fallen victim to a number of ransomware attacks made by hackers based in Russia.
The update will lay out that f an alliance member needs technical or intelligence support in response to a cyber attack, it would be able to invoke the mutual defense provision to receive assistance, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said.
Trump strained international ties with his isolationist strategy and his provocative comments about NATO leaders.
At Trump's last NATO meeting, in December 2019 in England, Trump feuded with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron.
Trump was angry after Trudeau was caught on a hot mic gossiping with other leaders about Trump during a reception at Buckingham Palace.
And Trump said that Macron's description of NATO as brain dead was insulting and a 'very, very nasty statement.'
Joe Biden touched down in Brussels on Sunday evening as he continues his first foreign trip as president
President Joe Biden is greeted as he steps off Air Force One in Brussels
President Joe Biden will spend his time in Brussels strengthening transatlantic relations frayed under President Donald Trump
During the meeting of the 30 NATO nations, the White House said they will launch an 'ambitious' set of initiatives to ensure the alliance keeps providing security through 2030 and beyond.
It said the member countries would agree to revise NATO´s 'Strategic Concept' that will guide its 'approach to the evolving strategic environment, which includes Russia's aggressive policies and actions; challenges posed by the People's Republic of China to our collective security, prosperity, and values; and transnational threats such as terrorism, cyber threats, and climate change.'
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said the US would come out of the G7, NATO and EU meetings in a position of strength.
'What we're demonstrating in each of these meetings and summits is that democracies can come together and work effectively to actually deliver results for our people, and by the way, for people around the world, and also when we're working together militarily, economically, diplomatically, politically, we're a very powerful force,' he said on 'Fox News Sunday.'
After Brussels, Biden will travel to Geneva to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 16.
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