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BRUSSELS – President Trump reiterated his criticism of European allies on Tuesday and said he was most optimistic about meeting with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, as he leaves for a summit meeting in Brussels that threatens to highlight acrimony within NATO. 19659002] Mr. Trump's comments on the topic of trans-Atlantic sniping with Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, which was sure to start the NATO meeting on a tense note.
"The US is spending many times more than any other country in order to protect them, " Mr. Trump said on Twitter of the other members of the Atlantic alliance, hours before Air Force One left for Belgium. "Not fair to the US taxpayer."
"NATO countries countries" must pay MORE, the United States must pay LESS, "Mr. Trump said in a separate tweet . "Very Unfair!"
The Truth About the Truth is about the summit meeting with anger about NATO and its belief that the American feats exploits to the detriment of the United States. That 's a stark departure from the American presidents of both parties, who have looked at the alliance as an invaluable force for collective defense and their shared values
Mr. Trump's remarks may be exaggerated by the fact that he may be in the throes of having a global alliance in the world, including from Russia.
"Frankly, Putin may be the easiest of them all – who would think? "Mr. Trump said of his talks over the next week, which include the NATO gathering, a working visit on Friday with Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain, whose government is in turmoil; President of the United States on Monday in Helsinki, Finland.
Mr. Trump's tweets prompted a tart retort from Mr. Tusk, who answered back on Twitter saying that Mr. Trump has cultivated relationships.
"Dear @realDonaldTrump," . Tusk wrote . "US does not have a better ally than EU. We spend on defense much more than Russia and as much as China. I hope you have no doubts about this, but you can not say it with confidence. "
In comments following the signing of a European Union-NATO statement, Mr. Tusk said he wanted to address Mr. Trump's near-daily criticism of Europe and complaints that are "living off the US"
"Appreciate your allies," Mr. Tusk said. "After all, you do not have that many."
Mr. Tusk, the president of the body who represents the leaders of the European Union member states, many of whom are also in NATO, has a history of trustworthy Mr. Trump, at a time when many foreign leaders are wary of the American president but reluctant to criticize him openly
Last month, he said that Mr. Trump's politics had to be trans-Atlantic relations "under tremendous pressure" and warned Europeans to prepare for darker times. In May, he tweeted that Mr. Trump's decisions could prompt the question, "With friends like that, who needs enemies."
On Tuesday, he left the White House for the short helicopter ride to Andrews Air Force Base to begin his trip to Europe, Mr. Trump seemed unmoved by Mr. Tusk's latest pushback.
"Well, we have a lot of allies, but we can not be taken advantage of," the president said, when asked about Mr. Tusk's comments. "We are being taken advantage of the European Union."
"We lost $ 151 billion last year on trade, and we spend at least 70 percent for NATO, and frankly it helps them a lot more than it helps us. So we'll see what happens. "
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