DHAKA: President Barack Obama has sought to assure US allies that President-elect Donald Trump will honor the country’s international alliances when he takes office in January.

Obama told reporters that Trump had “expressed a great interest” in maintaining the US commitment to NATO.

During the campaign, Trump said he might abandon a guarantee of protection for fellow NATO countries, reports the BBC.

His statements alarmed the Baltic States which fear Russian aggression.

Article 5 of the NATO treaty commits allies to come to the aid of a member state under attack.

However, in July Mr. Trump said the US would only come to the aid of allies if they have “fulfilled their obligations to us”.

The US has long been pressing its European allies to spend more on defense.

Obama was speaking hours before his arrival in the Greek capital, Athens, on his final official overseas trip. He will later travel on to Germany and then to Peru.

Obama is expected to use his final foreign visit to calm nerves over the forthcoming administration of Mr. Trump.

The property tycoon's surprise election victory has raised concern among some world leaders after a string of controversial statements he made during his campaign.

BDST: 1644 HRS, NOV 15, 2016
AP/BD