The mass influx of refugees and other migrants into Europe spells a “near existential threat” to Europe, US secretary of state John Kerry said on Saturday.
“The United States understands the near existential nature of this threat to the politics and fabric of life in Europe,” he told the Munich Security Conference.
“We are not saying ‘this is your problem, not ours’,” he added. “This is our problem… And that is why we are joining now and enforcing a Nato mission to close off a key access route and we will join you in other ways to stem this tide.”
He also said that the US strongly backs Britain staying in the European Union as it gears up for a referendum on its membership.
“Obviously, the United States has a profound interest in your success, as we do in a very strong UK staying in a strong EU,” Mr Kerry said.
The British government is engaged in an intensive round of high-stakes diplomacy aimed at renegotiating the terms of Britain’s EU membership before holding an in-out referendum.
Prime Minister David Cameron is seeking to convince his 27 fellow EU leaders to back controversial reform proposals at a leaders’ summit in Brussels between February 18 and 19.