Senators privately reassure European allies on NATO support

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan group of senators has privately assured diplomats from NATO and other European nations of the Senate's support for the alliance.

Participants said Wednesday morning's closed-door meeting involved around 20 senators and ambassadors and other representatives from about nine nations. It came after President Donald Trump repeatedly questioned the value of the trans-Atlantic coalition and shown a warming to its chief adversary, Russia.

Illinois Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin was among the meeting's organizers. He said the session was designed to reassure allies about "our commitment to NATO and our commitment to their security."

Republican Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama said lawmakers wanted the Europeans to know the U.S. is committed to NATO.

Participants said Ukraine, Latvia, Poland, Finland and NATO's newest member, Montenegro, were among those represented at the meeting.

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