U.S. to press NATO allies to spend more, warn about Russia: official

FILE PHOTO: Banners displaying the NATO logo are placed at the entrance of new NATO headquarters during the move to the new building, in Brussels, Belgium April 19, 2018. REUTERS/Yves Herman

Thomson Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States will press NATO allies, especially Germany, to increase military budgets and will underscore the heightened threat from Russia, a senior State Department official said on Wednesday before Friday's meeting in Brussels.

Asked whether U.S. Secretary of State nominee, Mike Pompeo, would attend the meeting if he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on Thursday, the official said, "We are following this closely, but don't have anything to announce on that right now."

As of now, Acting Secretary of State John Sullivan will attend the meeting of NATO foreign ministers, the official said.

(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton)

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