Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell focuses on confirming judicial nominees with COVID-19 talks stalled McConnell accuses Democrats of sowing division by 'downplaying progress' on election security Warren, Schumer introduce plan for next president to cancel ,000 in student debt MORE (R-Ky.) broke with President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpHR McMaster says president's policy to withdraw troops from Afghanistan is 'unwise' Cast of 'Parks and Rec' reunite for virtual town hall to address Wisconsin voters Biden says Trump should step down over coronavirus response MORE’s position on NATO Wednesday, calling Russia “a big problem” in an interview with McClatchy.

McConnell’s comments come just days after Trump continued his criticism of the alliance, calling it “obsolete” in an interview with a German newspaper.

But McConnell said the alliance “is the most important military alliance in world history and is more important than it ever was.”

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Trump criticized NATO during his presidential campaign, saying the United States would help its allies “if they fulfill their obligations to us.”

Vice President-elect Mike Pence Michael (Mike) Richard PenceControversial CDC guidelines were written by HHS officials, not scientists: report Former DeVos chief of staff joins anti-Trump group Scott Walker helping to prep Pence for debate against Harris: report MORE on Wednesday said the mission of NATO “will go forward” with the new administration.