ATHENS: US President Barack Obama flew into Athens on Tuesday on his final foreign trip to Europe, seeking to calm the nerves of allies concerned by Donald Trump's shock presidential election victory.
With Europeans worried by Trump's downplaying of the importance of the NATO military alliance, Obama pointedly told Greek daily Kathimerini before his visit that Washington had to resist the "urge" of isolationism.
"Our best chance for progress is to resist the urge to turn inward and instead reinvigorate our shared values and work together," Obama said.
Speaking to reporters on the eve of the trip, Obama cautioned his brash successor that he faces a reality check if he tries to enact some of his more controversial campaign promises.
"This office has a way of waking you up," said the outgoing president.
And as Obama touched down in Athens, NATO head Jens Stoltenberg said he was confident Trump would live up to US commitments to the alliance.
"I am certain that he will be a president... who will live up to all the commitments of the United States in the alliance, because a strong NATO is important for Europe but it's also important for the United States," Stoltenberg said.
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