Trump chooses former Attorney General Matt Whitaker as US ambassador to NATO

Donald Trump has chosen former Attorney General Matt Whitaker to serve as US ambassador to NATO, the major military alliance about which the president-elect has expressed skepticism.

In a statement, Trump said Republican attorney Whitaker was “a strong warrior and loyal patriot” who “will ensure that America’s interests are advanced and defended” and “will strengthen relationships with our NATO allies, and stand firm in the face of threats to peace and stability.”

Whitaker’s selection as representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is unusual, given that his background is as a lawyer and not in foreign policy.

The former Iowa attorney general served as acting head of the federal Justice Department between November 2018 and February 2019, while special counsel Robert Mueller investigated Russian election interference.

Before that, he was chief of staff to Trump’s first attorney general, Jeff Sessions, and then replaced his boss after Sessions was fired amid lingering outrage over his decision to withdraw from the Russia investigation.

Whitaker held the position for several months, on an interim basis and without Senate confirmation, until William Barr was confirmed in February 2019.

Whitaker has been a relentless critic of the federal criminal cases against Trump, which appear poised to evaporate after his election victory. He has also used regular appearances on Fox News to denounce, like other Republicans, what they see as the politicization of the Justice Department over the past four years.

Trump has repeatedly threatened not to defend NATO members that fail to meet the transatlantic alliance’s defense spending targets. Article 5 of NATO’s mutual defense treaty states that an armed attack against one or more of its members will be considered an attack against the others.

Earlier this year, Trump said that when he was president, he warned NATO allies that he would “encourage” Russia “to do whatever it wants” to “delinquent” countries while intensifying its attacks on foreign aid and old debt. international alliances.

Connect with the Voice of America! Subscribe to our channels YouTube, WhatsApp and to newsletter. Turn on notifications and follow us on Facebook, x and instagram.