WASHINGTON Seven Democrats on the U.S. House Armed Services Committee are calling on the president to explicitly endorse NATOs mutual-defense clause after he reportedly dropped it from a speech to allies in Brussels last month.

While other administration officials, including Vice President Mike Pence, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, have reiterated the commitment, the absence of an endorsement by our commander in chief has meaning, the letter reads. The lawmakerswarned of Article 5's importance to deter Russian aggression.

Thursdays letter was signed by Smith and Seapower ranking memberJoe Courtney, D-Conn.;Tactical AirLand Forces ranking memberNiki Tsongas, D-Mass.;Oversight and Investigation ranking memberSeth Moulton, D-Mass., and Reps. Beto ORourke, D-Tex.; Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., and Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer said earlier this week thatquestioning Trump's commitment to Article 5 is "a bit of a silly discussion" and "the president remains entirely committed to NATO and all of the articles, not just Article 5.

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Trump must endorse NATO mutual-aid clause, HASC Dems say - DefenseNews.com