Obama: US, NATO United in Fight Against Islamic State

Two weeks after the terrorist attacks in Brussels, U.S. President Barack Obama met Monday with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss the fight against the Islamic State militant group and greater cooperation during what the American leader called a tumultuous time for the world.
In countering the Islamic State, the U.S. president praised NATO’s contributions in Iraq and Jordan, where the alliance is assisting in training local forces.
The two leaders also discussed Afghanistan, with Obama calling NATO an extraordinary partner in bringing stability to the South Asian country.  Afghanistan will be one of the focal points of the July NATO summit in Warsaw, Poland.
“The coalition there continues to focus on assisting the government and the Afghan National Security Forces, building up capacity, pushing back against the Taliban and helping Afghans to provide security for their own country and hopefully being able to arrive at some sort of political settlement that will end decades of conflict and violence there,” Obama said.
Stoltenberg said they also discussed how NATO can increase support to the other countries in the region to enable them to stabilize themselves and fight IS.  He said "different ways of building local capacity is high on our agenda in NATO.”
Ukraine conflict

Monday’s talks also centered on the Ukrainian conflict, with President Obama noting the United States stands by its commitment to NATO allies.

“We continue to be united in supporting Ukraine, in the wake of Russian incursions into Ukrainian territory.  We continue to work in the training and assist fashion in helping support Ukraine develop its military capabilities, defensively,” Obama said.
The president said the United States and NATO are working with Russia to "reduce tensions and potential escalation."

On the 67th anniversary of the creation of NATO – the American leader took time to praise the alliance, calling it a “lynchpin” and a “cornerstone of our collective defense” and U.S. security policy.
The visit comes as Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump continues to question continued U.S. involvement in NATO.  Last week, the billionaire businessman called the organization "obsolete" and said he would be fine if it broke up.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed in 1949, partly as a response to the military threat posed by what was then the Soviet Union  chrisbro wn releases a new song