WASHINGTON: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte sought to calm tensions with President Donald Trump at the White House on Wednesday, using a mix of flattery and gentle pushback to argue that instances of allies’ reluctance to support the US war with Iran were limited to “isolated cases.” The NATO chief is visiting Washington to try to ease strains over the Iran war and US threats to draw down troops in Europe ahead of a pivotal NATO leaders’ summit in July in Ankara.

The NATO chief seeks to manage the U.S. president while appeasing other alliance members.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will check in face-to-face with President Donald Trump on Wednesday.