BRUSSELS – President Donald Trump Wednesday expressed his grievances against one of the closest and most powerful allies of the United States, accentuating the growing divisions of the North Atlantic alliance and warning against a summit of NATO leaders. in the case of an attack from Russia.

And he did it all through the breakfast.

Trump guest: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. "I think the general secretary likes Trump," said the president, before sitting in the dining room of a diplomatic mission in Brussels. "He may be the only one, but I do not mind."

But as soon as they sat down, it became clear that Trump did not come to Brussels in a conciliatory way

"Good morning to the media – the legitimate media and the fake media, "Trump began. With cameras jostling in unison, a reporter asks Trump which countries think he should pay more for the collective defense of NATO.

"Look at the map. pay what they should, "said Trump.Stoltenberg, sitting right in front of Trump at the breakfast table, said that NATO allies had reversed their defense spending cuts after the Cold War, and were now engaged in the greatest military accumulation in a generation.

"And why was it?" "It's also because of your leadership," Stoltenberg declared.

" They will not write that, but it'll be fine, "said Trump, nodding to the press

addressing the media further but looking directly at Stoltenberg, using it as a substitute for German Chancellor Angela Merkel He Complained to a Gas Pipeline Connecting Russia to Germany That the German Government Approved

"Germany is Totally Controlled by Russia because it will receive 60 to 70% of its energy from Russia and a new pipeline ", s & # 3 Tromp.

Fidgeting, looking away

At the end of The Chief of Staff, John Kelly, was sitting at the table, which began to shake while that Trump was pursuing Germany. He took notes, straightened his tie, adjusted the towel to his lap, picked up his chair, and looked away.

Sarah Sanders, White House spokeswoman, later said Kelly "was unhappy because he was waiting for a full breakfast."

While Trump continued his harangue, Stoltenberg diplomatically tried to bring Trump back to what was supposed to be the theme of this year's NATO summit. "Strength and unity."

"You know, NATO is an alliance of 29 nations, and there are sometimes differences and different points of view, as well as disagreements," the secretary general told Trump. "And the gas pipeline from Russia to Germany is a problem where the allies disagree, but the strength of NATO is that despite these differences, we have always been able to unite around our main task, to protect ourselves and defend ourselves, because we understand that we are stronger together than separated. "

Trump fought back. "But how can you be together when a country gets its energy from the person against whom you want to be protected or the group you want to protect?"

"Because we understand that when we stand together, we are also stronger against Russia, I think what we saw is that …"

Trump interrupted. "No, you are enriching Russia, you are not dealing with Russia, you are enriching Russia."

"Well, I think that even during the Cold War, NATO allies were trading with Russia" Stoltenberg said: "I think the trade is wonderful, I think that the Energy is a different story, I think that energy is a story very different from that of normal trade, "Trump said. "In my case, Germany is captive to Russia because it receives much of its energy from Russia, so we are supposed to protect Germany, but they receive their energy from Russia "

Outside, the White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, said that Trump would meet Merkel later in the day – and would make the same complaints directly to her – but when that meeting is Trump's tone seemed to change and he admitted he had raised the pipeline issue,

"We have a great relationship with Germany," he said. "But we'll see what will happen over the next few months. "

Merkel, for one, only said that she was" very happy to have this opportunity for an exchange of views. "[19659008] When asked about how the breakfast went later, Stoltenberg joked that he had "eggs and toast and a good fruit salad – and he was paid by the United States."

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