Trump, NATO chief discuss greater alliance Mideast role

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized Wednesday the importance of NATO increasing its Middle East footprint during a telephone call with Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, according to the White House.

During their conversation, Trump and Stoltenberg addressed the situation in the Middle East after Iran launched more than a dozen rockets at Iraqi facilities housing U.S. and coalition forces.

"The President emphasized the value of NATO increasing its role in preventing conflict and preserving peace in the Middle East," White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a statement.

A separate readout of the call, NATO said Stoltenberg and Trump "agreed that NATO could contribute more to regional stability and the fight against international terrorism."

It did not specify whether NATO would act.

Trump telegraphed the appeal during remarks earlier Wednesday in nationally televised remarks in which he said the Iranian strikes had caused no U.S. casualties, and Iran appears to be "standing down," which he said "is a good thing for all parties concerned, and a very good thing for the world."

Iran's ballistic missile attacks were in retaliation for the killing of Qasem Soleimani, its top general who was killed in Baghdad last week in a U.S. airstrike.

Soleimani's killing raised regional tensions with concerns that Washington and Tehran were on the precipice of war. But Trump appeared to tamp down those concerns with his Wednesday remarks.

In addition to Stoltenberg, Trump also spoke to U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson about the situation in the Middle East, according to the White House.