Trump nominates former Texas senator as Nato ambassador in Brussels

US president Donald Trump has nominated former Texas senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson to be the next American ambassador to Nato, based in Brussels, the White House has announced.

The 73-year-old nominee served as a US senator for 20 years. During her time in the senate, she was a member of the Armed Services Committee and chair of the Military Construction Subcommittee of Appropriations.

Hutchinson has also served as a Texas State representative and state treasurer. She replaces Douglas Lute and will be based at the US Mission to Nato in Evere.

Trump has often expressed his criticism of Nato. In May, he demanded that other member nations spend more on defence funding which may have contributed to his hesitation in anouncing support for Nato Article V, which guarantees all members will defend each other if attacked.

Last week, Trump nominated former baseball team co-owner Jamie McCourt as the US's ambassador to Belgium.t