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US President Donald Trump called on NATO leaders to double their defense spending commitments, after delivering a blistering tirade against Germany and other allies.
The US President complained that Europe was enjoying United States military support for the continent, and he urged his counterparts in private session to substantially increase their defense spending.
Even the United States – which spends more money on defense than any other country in the world – does not reach Donald Trump's new goal of 4% of the world. gross domestic product of countries. Washington spent 3.6% last year
PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS / AP
From left to right, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, President Donald Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May look up to the sky during a ceremonial flyby before the opening ceremony of the NATO summit. "In remarks by the president at the NATO summit, he suggested that not only countries respect their commitment to devote 2% of their GDP to defense spending, but that they increase it." at 4%, NATO last year, said White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders in a statement
READ MORE: European officials criticize Trump on Attitude towards the Allies
Our allies share a greater share of the burden and, at the very least, respect their already stated obligations. "
French President Emmanuel Macron, on the left, and the US President Donald Trump shake hands at a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit.
Interrogated at a press conference on Trump's demands Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, suggested that the focus be on the fact that each member country reaches the current target of 2 %.Only eight of the 29 NATO countries are on the right track to reach the This year's target of 2%.
Despite Trump's pugnacious stance and rhetoric, the Allies sought to project unity at the end of the meetings in Brussels
But, more importantly, we have decisions that advance this alliance and make us stronger, "said M Stoltenberg. "In the end, we all agree that North America and Europe are safer together."
Trump raised the issue of spending when his remarks during the first and main session of the NATO Summit. On NATO's defense plans, the plans suggest that Trump is refraining from cutting support for the alliance, despite his anger against what he says is Europe taking advantage of the security umbrella of the United States.
NATO leaders still fear to make concessions Russian President Vladimir Putin reunited Monday in Helsinki
At the beginning of the day, Trump wasted no time on the offensive as he was embarking on a week of high level diplomacy on both sides of the old Cold War divide.
The series of meetings – starting with NATO and culminating in a summit with Putin – was largely framed by Trump's claims that Washington carries an unfair burden to help protect its allies.
"Germany, as far as I am concerned, is captive" Trump told NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, during a heated exchange on camera that was one of the hardest in the history of the post-World War II alliance
.We must talk about the billions and billions of dollars that are paid to the country against which we are supposed to be protect, "said Trump, referring to European purchases of Russian natural gas.
Trump complained bitterly of the late defense of Europe spent, saying that the nations of NATO benefited from US military largesse at the same time as they offered unfair business conditions to US companies.
Germany, which failed to meet its NATO spending commitments and is beginning the construction of a second gas pipeline to Russia
L & # 39; A Germany and other European NATO partners, however, argue that they have increased their contributions to the military alliance and plan to launch even
Germany's leadership has stated that the pipeline was a private commercial decision and that they were reluctant to intervene.
The accusation of Russian influence may have particularly piqued German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who grew up in "I myself knew that part of Germany that was controlled by the Soviet Union, and I am very happy today that we are united in freedom as the Federal Republic of Germany, "Merkel told reporters. she entered NATO. "We decide our own policies and make our own decisions."
The American leader went to Europe saying that a Monday summit with Putin will be the easiest of his week of diplomacy – an unusual assertion the alliance should project a strong front and united against a strategic rival.
Trump preferred to target allies.
Even Stoltenberg – a former gentle-mannered Norwegian prime minister who cultivated a positive relationship with Trump – seemed reduced stammering when Trump cut him off after he began to explain that the allies had traded with Russia even during the cold war. Earlier in the trade, Trump demanded Stoltenberg's credit to force an increase in NATO's defense budgets.
"It was also because of your direction," Stoltenberg told Trump. The budget increases began after the annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia in 2014, and they accelerated at the time of Trump in response to criticism of the US president
"We are supposed to protect the Germany, but their energy comes from Russia ". Trump told Stoltenberg that the assistants on the US side and NATO from a long table were moving on their seats and were sitting next to the stone.
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly looked up. the ceiling. "So explain that," said Trump. "And that can not be explained, and you know it."
Trump's criticism sparked immediate concern in Germany. Süddeutsche Zeitung of Munich titled his story: "This is not only bad, it is catastrophic."
Germany's energy relationship with Russia has long frustrated Washington and Eastern Europe, who fear that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline bypasses the Baltic states and Poland could be used to cut off crucial energy supplies.
The former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is a senior executive of the Russian government-controlled company that manages the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.
Encouraged US natural gas exports to Europe in as an alternative to Russia as a source of supply, although US gas is much more expensive because of shipping costs.
Accustomed to a strong relationship with former US President Barack Obama.
Trump plans to meet Merkel face to face Wednesday afternoon (Thursday NZT), when he reiterates the same difficult message to his college White House spokesman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said:
Journalists were briefly allowed to enter the room at the end of their meeting, but the two leaders avoided blowing up face-to-face. days of NATO meetings. Thereafter, he will travel to England to meet British Prime Minister Theresa May, then spend the weekend at one of his private golf clubs in Scotland. Finally, he will travel to Helsinki for a summit with Putin
NATO members have accepted a long list of efforts that will strengthen the alliance against Russia and other rivals , thus facilitating the acceleration of military forces across Europe.
The leaders plan to unveil two new military headquarters, one that would help secure the Atlantic Ocean in times of conflict and the other to speed up military movements across the Atlantic. Europe.
They will strengthen NATO's missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. And they should reconfirm their hard line on the annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014 and their vow to continue pushing the Kremlin to send him back to Ukraine through sanctions and diplomacy.
These are all conventional products from a summit such as this one. but Trump challenged them
. Some diplomats fear that he will retain his signature of the agreement already approved by National Security Advisor John Bolton, repeating a decision made by Trump last month at the Group of Seven summit in Canada.
This would put the alliance in check and destroy security by asking whether the most powerful member of NATO is always ready to defend his allies if any. between them was attacked
. said an official in his office, informing journalists on the condition that the official is neither quoted nor directly quoted. [196] 59003] NATO leaders also fear the concessions that Trump could make to Putin.
Trump spoke of the possibility of withdrawing US troops from Germany. At the G7 summit, he told the leaders that he thought that Crimea belonged to Russia because most of its inhabitants are Russian-speaking, another position that would call into question the security decisions of the country. West versus Russia since 2014.
Trump's behavior this morning is another deeply worrying sign that the president is more loyal to President Putin than to our NATO allies, said Nancy Pelosi, leader of the minority in the Senate and leader of the senatorial minority Charles. Schumer in a joint statement
After meeting Trump, Stoltenberg tried to dispel the differences, saying that the bottom line is that NATO is getting stronger
"President Trump speaks clearly, sometimes so We are all in agreement that NATO must share the burden fairly, "said Stoltenberg at a conference at NATO HQ. Neighborhoods running along the summit
"My main task is to keep all our allies together," added Stoltenberg. – The Washington Post
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