 U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, writes Barron, said Monday he expected European allies to keep up strong support for NATO despite a far-right victory in the first round of French elections. Blinken steered clear of commenting directly when asked about the triumph of Marine Le Pen's National Rally Party, but pointed more broadly to NATO's strengthening since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. NATO holds a 75th anniversary summit in Washington next week.