Trump Issues Challenge to Global Alliances He Once Derided as 'Obsolete'

President Donald Trump met for the first time Thursday with leaders of the European Union and NATO allies in Belgium, a city he once called a "hellhole."

The president was critical of both organizations during his run for the White House. Then-candidate Trump praised Britain's vote to pull out of the EU and speculated about pulling out of NATO if members don't start paying their fair share.

Since becoming president, however, Trump has softened his tone, calling the EU "wonderful" and saying a strong Europe is important to him and the United States.

Nevertheless, he made it clear Thursday that he still expects NATO members to pay increase their contribution to the military alliance.

"NATO members must finally contribute their fair share and meet their financial obligations," Trump told the heads of state, who stood silently behind him at a special ceremony for the new NATO headquarters.  
 
"Twenty-three of the 28 member nations are still not paying what they should be paying," he said. "This is not fair to the people and tax payers of the United States."
 
In his speech, Trump, who once called NATO leaders "obsolete," stopped short of reiterating the United States' commitment to the alliance's mutual defense pledge.
 
Trump says the "NATO of the future" should focus on immigration and terrorism, especially in the wake of Monday's deadly explosion at an Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, England.

"If NATO countries made their full and complete contributions, then NATO would be even stronger than it is today," he said, "especially from the threat of terrorism."  

On Thursday morning, Trump met with European Council president Donald Tusk. While there was agreement on the need to combat terrorism, differences on other issues persist.

"Some issues remain open, like climate and trade. And I am not 100 percent sure that we can say today – 'we' means Mr. President and myself – that we have a common position, common opinions about Russia," Tusk said following his meeting with Trump.

"The greatest task today is the consolidation of the whole free world around those values," he said.

Trump is scheduled to depart Brussels late Thursday for the final leg of his overseas trip, a two-day stay in Sicily for G-7 meetings.