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Jill Colbin and Jonathan Lemire, Associated Press
Published Tuesday, July 10, 2018 1:07 AM EDT
Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 July 2018 09:13 EDT
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched a weeklong trip to Europe, severely criticizing NATO allies and predicting that the "easiest" step of his trip would be his rendezvous. planned with Russian President Vladimir Putin
. left the White House for a four-nation European tour, Trump did not do much to rebadure the allies about the risk of injury that he could make to the transatlantic mutual pact of 69 years and his potential embrace of Putin at a summit in Helsinki
Trump said Tuesday that he "can not say now" if Putin is a friend or an enemy, but called him a "competitor". The US intelligence community has concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 elections to reinforce Trump's bid and warns against further attempts to interfere in both the 2018 and European elections [19659004]. To attend the NATO summit, Trump criticized the pact: "Frankly, it helps them a lot more than it helps us."
Trump urged NATO nations to reach their goal of spending 2% of their gross domestic product on defense by 2024. During his presidential campaign, he suggested that He could only come to the defense of the NATO nations that fulfilled their obligation. He continues to criticize NATO countries for not paying their fair share.
From Belgium, Trump's trip will also bring him to London, where Prime Minister Theresa May's government is boiling over its exit plans from the European Union. Council President Donald Tusk said Tuesday in a message to Trump that "it is always worth knowing who your strategic friend is and who your strategic problem is." Tusk recalled that Europeans spend more than Russia and as much as China for defense. NATO estimates that 15 members, or slightly more than half, will reach the index by 2024 according to current trends
"Preparing to leave for the first time". Europe first meeting – NATO. US spending much more than any other country "Trump tweeted Tuesday morning, adding:" Not fair to US taxpayers, in addition to losing $ 151 billion on trade with the European Union. On Monday, he had tweeted that the situation was "not fair and acceptable" and insisted that NATO is benefiting Europe much more than in the United States [[] 19659004] "NATO countries must pay MORE, the United States has to pay less, very unfair!"
Trump, who compared the sentiment behind the Brexit vote to leave the United States. EU in his own election, will make his first presidential trip to Britain at a difficult time for the month of May. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary David Davis resigned at a few hours' notice to protest his plan. Trump said he could meet Johnson in the UK despite his resignation.
Trump's visit is expected to attract large demonstrations in London and elsewhere in Britain
Trump's week-long trip to Europe will continue with a stop in Scotland before ending with sitting in Helsinki with Putin.
He said that high-stakes meetings of his trip, "Putin may be the easiest of all."
"I think that getting along with Russia, getting along with China, getting along with others is a good thing, not a bad thing," he added.
The meeting will be closely monitored to see if Trump will reprimand or kiss Putin, who has repeatedly denied allegations of electoral interference, in spite of evidence to the contrary.
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Colvin reports from Washington. Author AP Zeke Miller contributed from Washington
