Kerry, NATO chief press importance of alliance after Brexit vote

Brussels, June 27

Britain’s vote to leave the European Union will not impact a summit next month of the NATO military alliance, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Monday, predicting “an even stronger NATO going forward”.

Britons voted in a referendum last Thursday to leave the EU, stunning global financial markets and world leaders.

US President Barack Obama and many other world leaders had urged Britain to remain inside the 28-nation bloc.

“We have high expectations of a very strong NATO meeting and important deliverables,” Kerry said of the summit planned for Warsaw on July 8-9. “That will not change one iota as a consequence of the vote that has taken place.” Kerry, who is on a lightning tour of Brussels and London intended to reassure US allies following the British vote, noted that 22 EU nations, including Britain, are part of NATO.

In Brussels Kerry met NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and EU foreign policy chief Frederica Mogherini.

“After the UK decided to leave the European Union I think that NATO has become even more important as a platform for cooperation between Europe and North America but also defence and security cooperation between European NATO allies,” said Stoltenberg, whose own country Norway is in NATO but not the EU.

Kerry was due to meet British leaders later in London.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who had campaigned for Britain to remain in the EU, intends to step down in the autumn after his ruling Conservatives have picked a new leader. — Reuters