US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's decision to miss his first meeting with NATO foreign ministers has unsettled European allies who fear the no-show reopens questions about President Donald Trump's commitment to the alliance. Reuters exclusively reported on Monday that Tillerson would stay at home to attend Trump's expected April 6-7 talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Florida, skipping the April 5-6 NATO talks. Given the US role as the de facto head of the alliance, it is rare for the United States' top diplomat to miss a NATO meeting. Trump himself is expected in Brussels for a NATO summit in May, although the date is still under discussion. Read: US 'unwavering' in support for Nato allies, says Vice-President PenceAlso read: NATO "absolutely confident" of Trump leadership in alliance

Source: The Star March 22, 2017 04:07 UTC