Report raises fresh doubts over Trump's NATO commitment

Fresh doubts surfaced Tuesday over President Donald Trump's commitment to NATO, after he was reported to have discussed a desire to pull out of the trans-Atlantic military alliance.

Last year, Trump repeatedly told senior officials that he did not see the point of NATO -- the historic alliance that forms the backbone of the West's post-World War II security order -- and that he wanted to withdraw, The New York Times reported.

He has often blasted members of the 29-nation partnership for not paying more into their national defense budgets.

Before taking office, Trump called NATO "obsolete" and soon after a tumultuous summit in July, he questioned whether the US would honour the alliance's founding principle of mutual defense for newest member
"NATO remains the cornerstone of transatlantic security."