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WASHINGTON – President Trump wrote rough letters to leaders of several NATO allies, including Germany, Belgium, Norway and Canada, accusing them of not being too self-defensive and warning that the United States is losing patience
The letters, which were released last month, are the latest sign of acrimony between Mr. Trump and his American allies as he heads to a summit of NATO next week in Brussels. will be a closely monitored test of the president's commitment to the transatlantic alliance after repeatedly questioning its value and claiming that its members are profiting from the United States.
They raised the prospect of a bitterly contentious second confrontation between the president and the US allies after an explosion of Mr. Trump at the Group of 7 who met last month in Quebec City and stressed the concerns of European allies far from projecting solidarity against the threats of Russia, their meeting will highlight the divisions within the alliance. This would make the game of Russian President Vladimir V. Putin, who must meet Mr Trump in Helsinki after the NATO meeting, and whose main objective is to sow divisions within the EU. NATO
"As we discussed during your visit in April, there is growing frustration in the United States that some allies have not committed as promised," Trump wrote to German Chancellor Angela Merkel. in a particularly sharp version of the letter, according to someone who has seen and shared excerpts with the New York Times. "The underutilization of defense by Germany compromises the security of the alliance and validates the other allies who do not plan to honor their military spending commitments, because the others see you as a model. "
to leaders of other countries, including the Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada and Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Mr. Trump said he understands the "domestic political pressure" exerted by the opponents to boost military spending, noting that he has spent "" But the President seemed to suggest that the United States could adjust its military presence in the world if their allies would not go farther and spend more for their own safety.
However, it is becoming increasingly difficult to justify to US citizens why some countries do not share the burden of NATO's collective security while Americans soldiers continue to sacrifice their lives to the United States. foreigner or seriously injured at home, "wrote Mr. Trump to Mrs. Merkel
. Trump 's letter to Mr. Trudeau was reported last month by iPolitics in Canada, and the existence of others was reported last week by Foreign Policy. The Belgian media and other NATO countries have since confirmed that their leaders have received similar letters.
The President was referring to the fact that many NATO allies were not respecting the commitment they made at the 2014 Wales Summit 2% of their gross domestic product on national defense. US presidents have long complained about the lack of burden-sharing among NATO member states, but Trump pushed this criticism much further, saying some of the closest allies to the US are essentially people unable to repay their debts.
The White House declined to comment on the private presidential correspondence, but a White House official, speaking under the guise of anonymity because the official was not allowed to discuss of the issue, said that Mr Trump is committed to the NATO alliance and expects his allies to shoulder 'their fair share of the common defense burden and do more in the areas that affect them the most. "
John R. Bolton, Trump's National Security Advisor Sunday, it was NATO members who refused to spend more on defense – not the president – who were responsible for the reduction. of the alliance.
"The President wants a strong NA TO," said Bolton in an interview on CBS's "Face the Nation." "If you think Russia is a threat, ask yourself this question: why is it? Does Germany spend less than 1.2% of its GNP? When people talk about undermining the NATO alliance, you should look at those who are carrying out actions that make the economy worse. NATO less effective militarily. "
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