Trump’s government in disarray: McCain to NATO

The resignation of US President Donald Trump’s national security adviser, Michael Flynn, shows that the new administration is in “disarray,” Republican Senator John McCain says.

McCain made the remark at the Munich Security Conference on Friday, days after Flynn was forced to quit his job over his ties to Russia.

“I think that the Flynn issue obviously is something that shows that in many respects this administration is in disarray and they've got a lot of work to do,” McCain said.

“The president, I think, makes statements (and) on other occasions contradicts himself. So we've learned to watch what the president does as opposed to what he says,” the Arizona senator added.

The comments undermined the reassuring message that American officials visiting Germany have sought to convey on their debut trip to Europe.

Trump has alarmed Washington’s European allies in NATO after calling the military alliance “obsolete.” He has also told the members to either pay for US support or rely on their own.

US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson have been sent on their first European tour to restore confidence.

Mattis made clear, both at the NATO headquarters in Brussels and in Munich, that Washington would not retreat from leading the military alliance as it deals with Russia, conflicts in eastern and southern Mediterranean countries and terrorism.

“President Trump came into office and has thrown now his full support to NATO. He too espouses NATO's need to adapt to today's strategic situation for it to remain credible, capable and relevant,” Mattis said.

Pence was also slated to address the Munich conference and address the same concerns on Saturday.

However, that has proven a tough challenge amid the new US administration’s struggle to contain the downfall of Flynn’s resignation.

Flynn stepped down on Monday after mounting evidence suggested that he had discussed former President Barack Obama’s anti-Russia sanctions with Russia's ambassador to the US, well before Trump’s inauguration.

Similar accusations were made against Trump before the presidential election. He has expressed a strong willingness to cooperate with Moscow on important issues.

This is while, NATO has been increasingly deploying weapons and equipment on Russia’s borders ever since cutting ties with Moscow in 2014.

Despite criticizing Trump, McCain urged the forum on Friday to not give up on Washington yet.

“Make no mistake, my friends. These are dangerous times, but you should not count America out, and we should not count each other out,” he said.

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