Outgoing NATO chief warns US, Europe against 'isolationism'

In his farewell speech on Thursday, outgoing NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg will reportedly warn both the United States and Europe against the dangers of "isolationism", especially as Donald Trump seeks a return to the White House.

"We have heard voices on both sides of the Atlantic calling for America and Europe to part ways," he plans to say during his address in Brussels, as reported by AFP.

"Focusing on short-sighted national interests over long-term cooperation will not serve us well. Isolationism will not keep anyone safe."

This caution comes as allies in Washington express concern that a Trump victory in November could weaken US commitment to NATO.

It is worth noting that Trump has unsettled European nations by suggesting that the US might cease protection for NATO allies that fail to meet defense spending commitments.

Stoltenberg is set to transition the leadership of the Western military alliance to former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte on October 1 after a decade of being in charge.

During his tenure, he has overseen a significant increase in defense spending among European members, largely driven by pressure from Washington and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

As of now, 23 of NATO's 32 countries are on track to meet the alliance's 2014 target of spending two percent of their GDP on defense.