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Amid criticism, NATO hailed by Obama as 'cornerstone' of U.S. security policy

Monday's remarks came amid criticism of NATO by GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.

By Doug G. Ware
President Barack Obama meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the Oval Office at the White House on Monday in Washington, D.C. Obama and Stoltenberg discussed ways NATO could assist in training troops to fight ISIS militants. Pool photo by Mark Wilson/UPI
1 of 3 | President Barack Obama meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the Oval Office at the White House on Monday in Washington, D.C. Obama and Stoltenberg discussed ways NATO could assist in training troops to fight ISIS militants. Pool photo by Mark Wilson/UPI | License Photo

WASHINGTON, April 4 (UPI) -- President Barack Obama on Monday praised nearly seven decades of peacekeeping by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, saying it remains a key part of the foundation of U.S. national security.

Obama met with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the White House on Monday, which marked the organization's 67th anniversary.

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"NATO continues to be the linchpin, the cornerstone of our collective defense and U.S. security policy," Obama said.

"NATO is as important as ever, because NATO has been able to adapt to a more dangerous world," Stoltenberg added. "We stand together in the fight against terrorism. Terrorism affects us all, from Brussels to San Bernardino."

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The purpose of NATO, which was established on April 4, 1949, has been to serve as an allied defense against aggressor nations -- such as Adolf Hitler's Germany, which spurred the start of World War II a decade earlier.

Recently, though, NATO has come under intense criticism from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has asserted that the organization has outlived its usefulness and the United States should no longer remain among its 28-member constituency.

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Specifically, Trump said the member nations that aren't paying their fair share -- which is 2 percent of their defense-based economy -- should be kicked out. And if that dooms NATO, he said, so be it.

President Barack Obama meets with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the Oval Office at the White House on Monday, which marked the 67th anniversary of the organization's existence. Pool photo by Mark Wilson/UPI

"NATO is obsolete, it's expensive," he said. "We go and say, 'look, you've got to pay more.' ... They might have to defend themselves."

Obama also hailed NATO's support in recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Ukraine.

"This is obviously a tumultuous time in the world. Europe is a focal point of a lot of these stresses and strains in the global security system," he said. "We are lucky to have a strong NATO Secretary General and a strong team that is such an excellent partner with us."

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