U.S. supports a united Europe: Pence

(BRUSSELS) - On his first foreign trip since taking office in January, United States vice president Mike Pence said Monday that the U.S. administration's commitment to a united Europe was "steadfast and enduring".

During what was termed "a very constructive and productive conversation", Mr Pence and EU Council president Donald Tusk spoke in support of the idea of a united Europe and in defence of a rules-based international order.

"I asked the vice president directly if he shared my opinions on three key matters: international order, security and the attitude of the new American administration towards the European Union. (…) I heard three times 'yes'!", said Mr Tusk.

Mr Tusk added that the EU counted on the "United States' wholehearted and unequivocal support for the idea of a united Europe".

In response, vice president Pence said that the U.S. was ready to deepen political and economic partnership with the EU, with which it shares the same values and purpose.

President Trump had asked him to come to Brussels, the home of the European Union, he said, to express "the strong commitment of the United States to continued cooperation and partnership with the European Union".

The United States remained committed "to promote peace and prosperity through freedom, democracy and the rule of law", he added.

Both leaders agreed that European security was based on NATO and the closest possible transatlantic cooperation. President Tusk said that all aspects of the NATO and security cooperation were open for discussion, including "financial commitments". These discussions, however, should be guided by the primary goal, which is to strengthen solidarity, he said.

Together, the EU and the USA have the largest bilateral trade and investment relationship in the world, roughly 31% of the world trade and over 49% of the world GDP. Transatlantic commerce supports 14 million jobs on both continents and "improves the lives and well-being of all of our citizens", said Mr Pence.

Earlier, the EU's foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini met Mr Pence and discussed the importance of a strong partnership between the European Union and the United States.

Ms Mogherini reaffirmed a strong willingness of the EU to continue building a strong EU-US partnership on the basis of clear values and interests, and cooperating closely on bilateral as well as international issues.

They also had in-depth exchanges on common priorities such as Syria and Ukraine, Libya, the Middle East and Afghanistan.