Reuters. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured NATO on Wednesday (November 13) that the Biden administration would bolster its support for Ukraine in the few months before Donald Trump’s return as president and would try to strengthen the alliance in that time.

 

Meeting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Brussels, Blinken also said the deployment of North Korean troops to help Russia in the Ukraine war would get a “firm response”. Blinken told reporters Moscow’s relationship with Pyongyang was a “two-way street,” and there was “deep concern about what Russia is or may be doing to strengthen North Korea’s capacity” including its nuclear capacity.

 

President-elect Trump, who has questioned U.S. military support for Ukraine, says he will quickly end Russia’s war without saying how, raising concerns among U.S. allies he could try to force Kyiv to accept peace on Moscow’s terms. Biden leaves office on Jan. 20.

 

Blinken also said the United States wanted real and extended pauses in fighting in Gaza so assistance can get to people who need it, but that the best way to help people would be to end the war. On Tuesday (November 12), after the expiry of a 30-day U.S. deadline for Israel to take steps to address the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Washington said Israel was not blocking aid to Gaza and therefore not violating U.S. law.

 

Eight international aid groups said Israel had failed to meet the U.S. demands to improve access for assistance. Food security experts have said it is likely that famine is imminent in parts of Gaza.

 

Trump, who has strongly backed Israel since Hamas-led gunmen attacked Israel in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages, has promised to bring peace to the Middle East, but has not said how he would accomplish that.