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Prof Triggernometry
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- Feb 7, 2017
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Trump's message: If Europe is serious about defending itself against Russia, they better start getting with the program:
Trump slams 'captive' Germany at NATO summit
AFP
Damon WAKE
July 11, 2018
Brussels (AFP) - US President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack on Germany at the start of a tense NATO summit Wednesday, accusing Berlin of being "captive" to Russia and demanding it and other allies immediately step up defence spending.
The two-day meet in Brussels was already shaping up to be the alliance's most difficult in years, with Europe and the US engaged in a bitter trade spat and Trump demanding that NATO allies "reimburse" Washington for the cost of defending the continent.
European alliance members were braced for criticism from Trump on defence spending, but his furious tirade at what should have been an amicable breakfast meeting appeared to take even NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg by surprise.
"Germany is a captive of Russia because it is getting so much of its energy from Russia," Trump said, taking particular aim at the proposed Nord Stream II gas pipeline, which he has previously criticised.
"Everybody's talking about it all over the world, they're saying we're paying you billions of dollars to protect you but you're paying billions of dollars to Russia."
https://www.afp.com/en/news/23/trump-slams-captive-germany-nato-summit-doc-17h0oi1
Trump slams 'captive' Germany at NATO summit
AFP
Damon WAKE
July 11, 2018
Brussels (AFP) - US President Donald Trump launched a blistering attack on Germany at the start of a tense NATO summit Wednesday, accusing Berlin of being "captive" to Russia and demanding it and other allies immediately step up defence spending.
The two-day meet in Brussels was already shaping up to be the alliance's most difficult in years, with Europe and the US engaged in a bitter trade spat and Trump demanding that NATO allies "reimburse" Washington for the cost of defending the continent.
European alliance members were braced for criticism from Trump on defence spending, but his furious tirade at what should have been an amicable breakfast meeting appeared to take even NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg by surprise.
"Germany is a captive of Russia because it is getting so much of its energy from Russia," Trump said, taking particular aim at the proposed Nord Stream II gas pipeline, which he has previously criticised.
"Everybody's talking about it all over the world, they're saying we're paying you billions of dollars to protect you but you're paying billions of dollars to Russia."
https://www.afp.com/en/news/23/trump-slams-captive-germany-nato-summit-doc-17h0oi1