National secur it y

Strengthen Our Enduring Alliance with Europe

The United States maintains a profound commitment to a Europe that is free, whole, and at peace. A 

strong Europe is our indispensable partner, including for tackling global security challenges, promoting 

prosperity, and upholding international norms. Our work with Europe leverages our strong and historic 

bilateral relationships throughout the continent. We will steadfastly support the aspirations of countries 

in the Balkans and Eastern Europe toward European and Euro-Atlantic integration, continue to trans-

form our relationship with Turkey, and enhance ties with countries in the Caucasus while encouraging 

resolution of regional conflict.

NATO is the strongest alliance the world has ever known and is the hub of an expanding global security 

network. Our Article 5 commitment to the collective defense of all NATO Members is ironclad, as is our 

commitment to ensuring the Alliance remains ready and capable for crisis response and cooperative 

security. We will continue to deepen our relationship with the European Union (EU), which has helped 

to promote peace and prosperity across the region, and deepen NATO-EU ties to enhance transatlantic 

security. To build on the millions of jobs supported by transatlantic trade, we support a pro-growth 

agenda in Europe to strengthen and broaden the region’s recovery, and we seek an ambitious T-TIP to 

boost exports, support jobs, and raise global standards for trade.

Russia’s aggression in Ukraine makes clear that European security and the international rules and norms 

against territorial aggression cannot be taken for granted. In response, we have led an international 

effort to support the Ukrainian people as they choose their own future and develop their democracy 

and economy. We are reassuring our allies by backing our security commitments and increasing respon-

siveness through training and exercises, as well as a dynamic presence in Central and Eastern Europe to 

deter further Russian aggression. This will include working with Europe to improve its energy security 

in both the short and long term. We will support partners such as Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine so 

they can better work alongside the United States and NATO, as well as provide for their own defense.

And we will continue to impose significant costs on Russia through sanctions and other means while 

countering Moscow’s deceptive propaganda with the unvarnished truth. We will deter Russian aggres-

sion, remain alert to its strategic capabilities, and help our allies and partners resist Russian coercion over 

the long term, if necessary. At the same time, we will keep the door open to greater collaboration with 

Russia in areas of common interests, should it choose a different path—a path of peaceful cooperation 

that respects the sovereignty and democratic development of neighboring states.

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