The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expects continued support for NATO in Europe despite right-wing extremist advances – most recently in the first round of the French parliamentary election.
During a Q&A session at a seminar, Blinken avoided directly answering questions about Marine Le Pen's far-right party National Rally's (RN) triumph, instead pointing to the defense alliance's strengthening since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.
Blinken said that NATO should ensure that defense is where it is needed.
This has been a clear path over the past three and a half years. I don't actually see it changing regardless of the current politics in Europe, he said at the think tank Brookings Institution, adding that NATO has very strong allies.
In particular, he referred to Italy and its right-oriented Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
France's RN has long been criticized for the party's relations with Russia, but rising star Jordan Bardella, who aspires to the post of Prime Minister, has said that a government he might lead would "provide logistical support and defense equipment to Ukraine" but is not willing to send long-range missiles or French troops.
