Trump meets NATO chief Rutte to discuss global security challenges

US President-elect Donald Trump met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Friday in Palm Beach, Florida to discuss global security challenges.

“They discussed the range of global security issues facing the Alliance,” the statement said without giving details.

This is Rutte’s first meeting with Trump since his election on November 5. Rutte, in an earlier congratulatory message, emphasized the importance of Trump’s leadership in maintaining NATO’s strength and expressed his commitment to collaborating with him on Alliance priorities.

On its website, NATO said Rutte and his team also met with Congressman Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick to be his national security adviser when he returns to the White House, and other members of the president-elect’s national security team.

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Rutte and his team also met Trump’s pick as national security adviser, U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, and other members of the president-elect’s national security team, the NATO statement said.

On Friday, NATO did not respond to requests for comment on Dutch media reports that Rutte - a former prime minister of the Netherlands - had flown to Florida on a Dutch government plane to meet Trump.

Rutte, who took office as NATO chief last month, was widely regarded as one of the best European leaders at forging a good working relationship with Trump during his first, 2017-21 term as U.S. president.

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Rutte took over at the helm of NATO in October.

With inputs from agencies.