NATO 'no longer obsolete', says Trump

In a major U-turn, President Donald Trump has said that NATO is "no longer obsolete" and reaffirmed his commitment to the military alliance as tensions rose between the US and Russia over Syria.

"I complained about that a long time ago and they made a change, and now they do fight terrorism. I said it was obsolete. It's no longer obsolete," Trump told reporters at a joint White House news conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

"It's my hope that NATO will take on an increased role in supporting our Iraqi partners in their battle against the ISIS," he said about NATO which was formed in 1949. 

Trump had repeatedly questioned the value of the alliance and made overtures to Russia during his presidential



campaign.

Trump acknowledged that America's relationship with Russia "may be at an all-time low".

"Right now we are not getting along with Russia at all," Trump said.

"It would be wonderful... if NATO and our country could get along with Russia," Trump said yesterday amid a deepening war of words with the Kremlin.

Trump's remarks come as his administration criticised Russia's support for Syrian leader President Bashar al-Assad and questioned the Kremlin's interference in elections in Montenegro.

Trump, earlier, labelled Assad a "butcher and told allies it was time to end Syria's "brutal" civil war.

Trump also supported the admission of Montenegro into the 28-member NATO.