Latest news with #DeputiesCommittee
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Marco Rubio Aide Scrambles to Delete His Public Attack on Trump Appointee
The deputy secretary of state posted and then quickly deleted a social media attack against President Donald Trump's ambassador to NATO. Ambassador Matt Whitaker, who is a MAGA hardliner, had posted a routine diplomatic post on the social media platform X, writing, 'What happens in the Indo-Pacific matters for transatlantic security,' he wrote. 'That's why NATO works with partners globally. In Brussels I've met with our partners from Japan, South Korea, Australia New Zealand over recent weeks,' Whitaker continued, introducing a thread about his meetings with ambassadors from those countries. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, however, took issue with the seemingly innocuous posts. 'He obviously didn't get the memo of our Deputies Committee meeting on this very issue,' Secretary of State Marco Rubio's right-hand aide wrote in a reply, according to The New York Times. 'NATO is still a solution in search of a problem.' Landau then quickly deleted the post. It wasn't clear if he had accidentally insulted one of Trump's ambassadors in public or if he intentionally leveled the attack and then regretted it, the Times reported. The State Department did not respond to the Times' request for comment. The Daily Beast has also reached out. Whitaker worked at the Department of Justice during Trump's first term and gained a reputation for personal loyalty to the president, despite the department traditionally enjoying a degree of independence from the White House. He was a vocal critic of the Mueller investigation into Russian interference during the 2016 election and temporarily led the DOJ as acting attorney general. Before being tapped as ambassador to NATO, he accused European countries of 'taking advantage' of the U.S. and spending their money on 'socialized medicine and other experiments.' The U.S. has since put NATO in several awkward positions, with Trump subjecting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to rants about taking over Canada and Greenland. Canada and Denmark, which has sovereignty over Greenland, are both founding members of NATO, an alliance built on the principle of collective defense, with an attack on one member being treated as an attack on all. Rutte has been dubbed the alliance's 'Trump whisperer' for his ability to tactfully handle Trump and his advisers. Landau previously served as Trump's ambassador to Mexico.
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
No. 2 US diplomat questions need for Nato in deleted social media post
US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau was replying to a social media thread by Mr Matthew Whitaker, the US ambassador to Nato. PHOTO: AFP No. 2 US diplomat questions need for Nato in deleted social media post WASHINGTON - The number two US diplomat questioned the need for Nato in a post on X - which he later deleted - as the alliance prepares for an annual summit expected to be dominated by a US demand for higher defence spending and Russia's war on Ukraine. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau was replying to a social media thread by Mr Matthew Whitaker, the US ambassador to Nato. Mr Whitaker in his post said that what happened in the Indo-Pacific mattered for transatlantic security. "He obviously didn't get the memo our [sic] of our Deputies Committee meeting on this very issue," Mr Landau wrote at 6:56pm on June 11, referring to Mr Whitaker. "Nato still a solution in search of a problem." It was not clear if Mr Landau meant for his message to be public or if he intended to send Mr Whitaker's post to a third person. "This was a casual, lighthearted remark intended for a brief, private exchange," a State Department spokesperson said in e-mailed comments. "The Deputy Secretary's comment was in the context of his desire to improve Nato and ensure it remains focused on its mission," the spokesperson said. Mr Landau's post was later deleted. The Deputies Committee is subordinate to the National Security Council and composed of deputy secretaries of State, Defence and other agencies, according to the White House website. The administration of former President Joe Biden had pushed the European allies to pay more attention to the threats in the Indo-Pacific, particularly from China, but the Trump administration has encouraged those allies to focus on their own security. Mr Landau's post contrasts with the views of most of Nato's European members, who see Russia and its war on Ukraine as an existential threat, and the US-led alliance as their main means of defence. His post came as Nato leaders prepare for a two-day summit in the Hague beginning on June 24, where they will consider US President Donald Trump's demand that they boost defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend the meeting. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, he regularly has attended Nato summits, and alliance members have pledged billions in weapons and condemned Russia for an illegal war of conquest. Mr Trump has shifted US policy, partially accepting Moscow's justifications for its full-scale invasion in February 2022 and disparaging Mr Zelensky. European allies have expressed concern about Mr Trump's commitment to the 32-member alliance and its support for Ukraine's battle against Russia's occupation forces. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
No. 2 US diplomat questions need for NATO in deleted social media post
By Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The number two U.S. diplomat questioned the need for NATO in a post on X - which he later deleted - as the alliance prepares for an annual summit expected to be dominated by a U.S. demand for higher defense spending and Russia's war on Ukraine. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau was replying to a social media thread by Matthew Whitaker, the U.S. ambassador to NATO. Whitaker in his post said that what happened in the Indo-Pacific mattered for transatlantic security. "He obviously didn't get the memo our [sic] of our Deputies Committee meeting on this very issue," Landau wrote at 6:56 pm on Wednesday, referring to Whitaker. "NATO is still a solution in search of a problem." It was not clear if Landau meant for his message to be public or if he intended to send Whitaker's post to a third person. "This was a casual, lighthearted remark intended for a brief, private exchange," a State Department spokesperson said in emailed comments. "The Deputy Secretary's comment was in the context of his desire to improve NATO and ensure it remains focused on its mission," the spokesperson said. Landau's post was later deleted. The Deputies Committee is subordinate to the National Security Council and composed of deputy secretaries of State, Defense and other agencies, according to the White House website. The administration of former President Joe Biden had pushed the European allies to pay more attention to the threats in the Indo-Pacific, particularly from China, but the Trump administration has encouraged those allies to focus on their own security. Landau's post contrasts with views of most of NATO's European members, who see Russia and its war on Ukraine as an existential threat, and the U.S.-led alliance as their main means of defense. His post came as NATO leaders prepare for a two-day summit in the Hague beginning on June 24, where they will consider U.S. President Donald Trump's demand that they boost defense spending to 5% of GDP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to attend the meeting. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, he regularly has attended NATO summits, and alliance members have pledged billions in weapons and condemned Russia for an illegal war of conquest. Trump has shifted U.S. policy, partially accepting Moscow's justifications for its full-scale invasion in February 2022 and disparaging Zelenskiy. European allies have expressed concern about Trump's commitment to the 32-member alliance and its support for Ukraine's battle against Russia's occupation forces.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
No. 2 US diplomat questions need for NATO in deleted social media post
WASHINGTON, - The number two U.S. diplomat questioned the need for NATO in a post on X - which he later deleted - as the alliance prepares for an annual summit expected to be dominated by a U.S. demand for higher defense spending and Russia's war on Ukraine. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau was replying to a social media thread by Matthew Whitaker, the U.S. ambassador to NATO. Whitaker in his post said that what happened in the Indo-Pacific mattered for transatlantic security. "He obviously didn't get the memo our of our Deputies Committee meeting on this very issue," Landau wrote at 6:56 pm on Wednesday, referring to Whitaker. "NATO is still a solution in search of a problem." It was not clear if Landau meant for his message to be public or if he intended to send Whitaker's post to a third person. "This was a casual, lighthearted remark intended for a brief, private exchange," a State Department spokesperson said in emailed comments. "The Deputy Secretary's comment was in the context of his desire to improve NATO and ensure it remains focused on its mission," the spokesperson said. Landau's post was later deleted. The Deputies Committee is subordinate to the National Security Council and composed of deputy secretaries of State, Defense and other agencies, according to the White House website. The administration of former President Joe Biden had pushed the European allies to pay more attention to the threats in the Indo-Pacific, particularly from China, but the Trump administration has encouraged those allies to focus on their own security. Landau's post contrasts with views of most of NATO's European members, who see Russia and its war on Ukraine as an existential threat, and the U.S.-led alliance as their main means of defense. His post came as NATO leaders prepare for a two-day summit in the Hague beginning on June 24, where they will consider U.S. President Donald Trump's demand that they boost defense spending to 5% of GDP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to attend the meeting. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, he regularly has attended NATO summits, and alliance members have pledged billions in weapons and condemned Russia for an illegal war of conquest. Trump has shifted U.S. policy, partially accepting Moscow's justifications for its full-scale invasion in February 2022 and disparaging Zelenskiy. European allies have expressed concern about Trump's commitment to the 32-member alliance and its support for Ukraine's battle against Russia's occupation forces.
