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NATO Summit Live Updates: Trump Says Germany Is ‘Captive’ to Russia NATO Summit Live Updates: Germany Is ‘Captive’ to Russia, Trump Says
(about 2 hours later)
Right Now: Chancellor Angela Merkel has rejected President Trump’s claims about Germany’s energy policy. Right Now: After criticizing Germany, President Trump has met with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
• President Trump is in Brussels as part of a seven-day, three-nation European trip that highlights the ways he has utterly transformed United States foreign policy.• President Trump is in Brussels as part of a seven-day, three-nation European trip that highlights the ways he has utterly transformed United States foreign policy.
• Mr. Trump got off to a confrontational start on Wednesday, disparaging NATO and telling the alliance’s secretary general that other nations must spend more on defense. He also accused Germany of being “captive of Russia” on energy. • Mr. Trump got off to a confrontational start on Wednesday, disparaging NATO and telling the alliance’s secretary general that other nations must increase military spending. He also accused Germany of being “captive of Russia” on energy.
• The president has upended generations of American diplomacy, antagonizing and belittling traditional allies over issues like defense and trade, while refraining from criticizing Russia, traditionally an adversary.• The president has upended generations of American diplomacy, antagonizing and belittling traditional allies over issues like defense and trade, while refraining from criticizing Russia, traditionally an adversary.
• After the NATO summit meeting, he is to travel to Britain and then to Finland to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia. • After the NATO meeting, he is to travel to Britain and then to Finland to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
• The New York Times will have live coverage from Brussels throughout the meeting, from our White House reporters and European correspondents.• The New York Times will have live coverage from Brussels throughout the meeting, from our White House reporters and European correspondents.
Mr. Trump kicked off his meetings on a contentious note, calling allies “delinquent” for failing to spend enough on their own defense and attacking Germany as a “captive” of Russia because of its energy dealings. Mr. Trump kicked off his meetings on a defiant note, calling allies “delinquent” for failing to spend enough on their own militaries and attacking Germany as a “captive” of Russia because of its energy dealings.
“Many countries are not paying what they should, and, frankly, many countries owe us a tremendous amount of money from many years back,” Mr. Trump said at a breakfast with Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general, at the residence of the American ambassador to Belgium. “They’re delinquent, as far as I’m concerned, because the United States has had to pay for them.”“Many countries are not paying what they should, and, frankly, many countries owe us a tremendous amount of money from many years back,” Mr. Trump said at a breakfast with Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO secretary general, at the residence of the American ambassador to Belgium. “They’re delinquent, as far as I’m concerned, because the United States has had to pay for them.”
He singled out Germany for particularly sharp criticism, saying the country was “totally controlled by Russia” because of its dependence on Russian natural gas. The United States spends heavily to defend Germany from Russia, he said, and “Germany goes out and pays billions and billions of dollars a year to Russia.”He singled out Germany for particularly sharp criticism, saying the country was “totally controlled by Russia” because of its dependence on Russian natural gas. The United States spends heavily to defend Germany from Russia, he said, and “Germany goes out and pays billions and billions of dollars a year to Russia.”
He criticized Germany for giving approval for Gazprom, the Russian energy titan, to construct the Nord Stream 2 pipeline through its waters, a $10 billion project.He criticized Germany for giving approval for Gazprom, the Russian energy titan, to construct the Nord Stream 2 pipeline through its waters, a $10 billion project.
“Germany is a captive of Russia” because of the oil and gas issue, Mr. Trump said. “I think it’s something that NATO has to look at.” “Germany is a captive of Russia,” Mr. Trump said. “I think it’s something that NATO has to look at.” — Julie Hirschfeld Davis
Mr. Stoltenberg countered that “despite differences,” NATO was about uniting “to protect and defend each other.” Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who grew up in East Germany, offered a reminder that she learned firsthand what it means to be a “captive” nation. Modern Germany, she said, is not one.
But Mr. Trump shrugged off the collective defense principle, saying, “How can you be together when a country is getting its energy from the country you want protection against?” — Julie Hirschfeld Davis
Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany offered a reminder that she learned firsthand, growing up in the former East Germany, what it means to be a “captive” nation. Modern Germany, she said, is not one.
“I have experienced myself how a part of Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union,” she told reporters who asked about Mr. Trump’s comments as she entered the NATO leaders’ meeting. Now “united in freedom,” she said, Germany “can make our own policies and make our own decisions.”“I have experienced myself how a part of Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union,” she told reporters who asked about Mr. Trump’s comments as she entered the NATO leaders’ meeting. Now “united in freedom,” she said, Germany “can make our own policies and make our own decisions.”
In her typical polite-but-firm fashion, Ms. Merkel showed no sign of irritation at Mr. Trump’s remarks and did not say directly that he was wrong, but she made her position clear.In her typical polite-but-firm fashion, Ms. Merkel showed no sign of irritation at Mr. Trump’s remarks and did not say directly that he was wrong, but she made her position clear.
She noted that Germany was the second-largest provider of NATO troops, after the United States, and had thousands of troops supporting the American-led effort in Afghanistan.She noted that Germany was the second-largest provider of NATO troops, after the United States, and had thousands of troops supporting the American-led effort in Afghanistan.
“Germany does a lot for NATO,” she said, adding that, in the process, Germans “defend the interests of the United States.”“Germany does a lot for NATO,” she said, adding that, in the process, Germans “defend the interests of the United States.”
Mr. Trump, who is to meet with Mr. Putin next week, may have raised issue of the natural gas pipeline to deflect accusations that he himself has been too cozy with the Russian president — charges bolstered by the continuing investigation into Russian interference on his behalf in the 2016 election. Mr. Trump, who is set to meet with Mr. Putin next week, may have raised issue of the natural gas pipeline to deflect accusations that he himself has been too cozy with the Russian president — charges bolstered by the continuing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Mr. Trump, who often turns criticism directed at him back against those who make it, said that Germany’s leaders were too beholden to Russia to deal effectively with the Kremlin. Mr. Trump said that Germany’s leaders were too beholden to Russia.
“The former chancellor of Germany is the head of the pipeline company that’s supplying the gas,” Mr. Trump said, referring to Gerhard Schröder, who leads the Nord Stream 2 project. “So you tell me, is that appropriate?”“The former chancellor of Germany is the head of the pipeline company that’s supplying the gas,” Mr. Trump said, referring to Gerhard Schröder, who leads the Nord Stream 2 project. “So you tell me, is that appropriate?”
The pipeline is a sensitive issue in Europe, where many people oppose it on security and environmental grounds.The pipeline is a sensitive issue in Europe, where many people oppose it on security and environmental grounds.
Much of Europe relies on natural gas from Russia, which has cut off supplies in order to exert pressure on other countries.Much of Europe relies on natural gas from Russia, which has cut off supplies in order to exert pressure on other countries.
The current pipelines pass through Ukraine, Belarus and Poland, but Nord Stream 2 would bypass them. That has raised fears that Russia could manipulate or choke off supplies to its East European neighbors while maintaining the usual flow to Western Europe. The current pipelines pass through Ukraine, Belarus and Poland, but Nord Stream 2 would bypass those countries. That has raised fears that Russia could manipulate supplies to its East European neighbors while maintaining the flow to Western Europe. — Julie Hirschfeld Davis
American presidents have long pressed their NATO counterparts to increase military spending. But Mr. Trump’s insistence that the other nations owe money to the organization or to the United States misstates how the alliance works, and the figures he cites are misleading. European leaders’ response to Mr. Trump’s comments was muted, but the reaction from top Democrats in Congress was emphatically not.
“President Trump’s brazen insults and denigration of one of America’s most steadfast allies, Germany, is an embarrassment,” said a joint statement issued by Senator Chuck Schumer of New York and Representative Nancy Pelosi of California.
Mr. Schumer and Ms. Pelosi said the president’s posture at the NATO gathering had raised their level of concern about his upcoming meeting with Mr. Putin. They took the opportunity to lay out their standards for what would constitute a positive meeting with the Russian leader — namely, a halt to the kind of interference that some Democrats say helped to elect Mr. Trump. — Julie Hirschfeld Davis
American presidents have long pressed their NATO counterparts to increase military spending. But Mr. Trump’s insistence that the other nations owe money misstates how the alliance works, and the figures he cites are misleading.
(Our reporters fact-checked the president’s claims on the financial relationship between the United States and NATO countries.)(Our reporters fact-checked the president’s claims on the financial relationship between the United States and NATO countries.)
NATO has a budget to cover shared costs and some equipment that is used in joint operations, and all 29 member countries contribute to it according to their gross national income. None of the allies has failed to pay its contribution. NATO has a budget to cover shared costs and some equipment used in joint operations, and all 29 member countries contribute to it. None of the allies has failed to pay its contribution.
Mr. Trump’s complaint is that, while NATO has agreed that each member country should spend at least 2 percent of its gross domestic product on military spending, most do not. But none has failed to comply with that agreement, because the 2 percent figure is a target to be reached by 2024. Mr. Trump’s complaint is that, while NATO member countries have agreed to spend at least 2 percent of their gross domestic products on military spending, most do not. But none has violated that agreement, because the 2 percent figure is a target to be reached by 2024.
According to NATO, all member countries have significantly raised military spending since 2014, and eight are expected to meet the goal this year. According to NATO, all members have significantly raised military spending since 2014, and eight are expected to meet the goal this year.
Mr. Trump tweeted on Monday that the United States accounted for 90 percent of military spending by NATO countries, but the alliance says the real figure is about 67 percent. And most American military spending is not NATO-related.Mr. Trump tweeted on Monday that the United States accounted for 90 percent of military spending by NATO countries, but the alliance says the real figure is about 67 percent. And most American military spending is not NATO-related.
Even so, the organization says on its website, “There is an overreliance by the alliance as a whole on the United States for the provision of essential capabilities, including, for instance, in regard to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; air-to-air refueling; ballistic missile defense; and airborne electronic warfare.”Even so, the organization says on its website, “There is an overreliance by the alliance as a whole on the United States for the provision of essential capabilities, including, for instance, in regard to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; air-to-air refueling; ballistic missile defense; and airborne electronic warfare.”
Mr. Trump has a point about the outsize burden the United States shoulders, a commitment that previous presidents have considered vital. But are other countries behind in paying for their defense? No. — Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Steven Erlanger — Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Steven Erlanger
If Mr. Stoltenberg felt ambushed by Mr. Trump, he gave no sign of it, declining to get drawn into an argument with the president in front of a clutch of reporters.If Mr. Stoltenberg felt ambushed by Mr. Trump, he gave no sign of it, declining to get drawn into an argument with the president in front of a clutch of reporters.
Instead, the secretary general, a generally unflappable Norwegian, stuck to his mantra of recent days: NATO members are united on the principle of collective defense, whatever their disagreements.Instead, the secretary general, a generally unflappable Norwegian, stuck to his mantra of recent days: NATO members are united on the principle of collective defense, whatever their disagreements.
(Steven Erlanger analyzed the European balancing act ahead of the summit.) (Steven Erlanger analyzed the European balancing act before the meeting.)
Rather than confronting Mr. Trump, he has repeatedly given nods to the president, praising his “direct language” and “plain-speaking,” and saying that “we all agree” that more military spending is needed. Rather than confronting Mr. Trump, Mr. Stoltenberg has repeatedly given nods to the president, praising his “direct language” and “plain-speaking,” and saying that “we all agree” that more military spending is needed.
Mr. Stoltenberg gamely stuck to his insistence that dissension does not undermine the alliance, even as Mr. Trump’s denigrations continued. He gamely stuck to his insistence that dissension does not undermine the alliance, even as Mr. Trump’s denigrations continued.
“We see differences, disagreements between allies,” Mr. Stoltenberg said on Wednesday. “I’m confident that despite discussions, disagreements, we will decide and we will deliver.” “I’m confident that despite discussions, disagreements, we will decide and we will deliver,” Mr. Stoltenberg said on Wednesday.
“Two world wars and the Cold War taught us we are stronger together than apart,” Mr. Stoltenberg said. President Trump held brief private meetings with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President Emmanuel Macron of France on the sidelines of the NATO summit meeting.
President Trump will have brief private meetings with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and President Emmanuel Macron of France on the sidelines of the NATO summit meeting, his spokeswoman said. (Doug Mills, a Times photographer who frequently covers politics in Washington, is traveling with President Trump. See pictures from him and other photojournalists here.)
The “pull-aside” talks are to come after Mr. Trump attends formal meetings with NATO allies. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, said the president would use his session with Ms. Merkel to reiterate concerns about Germany’s energy dependence on Russia.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, said the president would use his session with Ms. Merkel to reiterate concerns he raised Wednesday morning about Germany’s energy dependence on Russia. The talks held the potential to be awkward, given Mr. Trump’s recent criticisms of Europe, and of Germany in particular. — Julie Hirschfeld Davis
The talks could be awkward, given Mr. Trump’s recent criticisms of Europe, and of Germany in particular. If Mr. Trump was in a prickly mood as he entered the NATO meeting, his aides and wary allies found one source of comfort: No Twitter.
But if they are, the public may never know about it. Ms. Sanders said the White House would not allow any media coverage of either encounter. — Julie Hirschfeld Davis Cellphones are banned from the room where the 29 leaders are gathered, and NATO jams signals in the building to prevent eavesdropping and hacking. So it was expected that Mr. Trump would not have access to his favorite medium for lobbing insults and gripes — at least for a few hours.
Perhaps nowhere is European fear about American intentions more pronounced than in the Baltic States — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Somehow, the president found a way to tweet.
Long ruled by the Russian giant to the east, these small nations gained their independence in the early 1990s with the collapse of the Soviet Union, and they see a very real danger in Russia’s assertiveness under Mr. Putin. As the opening meeting proceeded into a classified session on Wednesday, Mr. Trump sent out messages about the trade war he had escalated by imposing tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods. He said he had acted on behalf of American agriculture.
The countries joined NATO in 2004 to ward off that threat, and the alliance has recently stationed troops in the Baltic States as a kind of tripwire for any Russian incursion. “I will open things up, better than ever before, but it can’t go too quickly,” he added in a second tweet. “I am fighting for a level playing field for our farmers, and will win!”
But when asked two years ago, before he was elected, whether the United States would defend the Baltic countries against a Russian attack, Mr. Trump equivocated. “If they fulfill their obligations to us,” he said, “the answer is yes.” It was not clear whether Mr. Trump violated the NATO meeting’s no-phone rule, or whether the tweet was sent by an aide outside the room, but one thing was certain: There is no keeping @realdonaldtrump from his followers. — Julie Hirschfeld Davis
There are significant ethnic Russian minorities in the Baltics, and people there are acutely aware that protecting Russians was the reason the Kremlin gave for its incursions into Ukraine. NATO leaders are set to meet with their Ukrainian counterparts on Thursday to show solidarity with Kiev, after the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, and in the face of Moscow’s continuing military support of rebels in eastern Ukraine.
Mr. Trump enjoys sending Twitter barbs at his adversaries, but he will be restrained during the NATO summit meeting. The meeting is pointed reminder from the West of the principle that one nation should not violate the territorial integrity of another. Talks on resolving the dispute in Ukraine have essentially stalled.
In NATO’s new building, in the massive high-tech meeting room, no mobile phones are allowed — not even for a president. Even if they were permitted, they probably would not work, because NATO jams signals in the building to prevent eavesdropping or hacking. NATO leaders are also to meet with the leaders of Georgia on Thursday, in a similar show of support for Tbilisi against Russia, which has occupied parts of the country since 2008.
So at least for the hours he is with other leaders, Mr. Trump will be under a cone of silence. Ukraine and Georgia will be invited to discuss their progress in security and defense overhauls and their cooperation with NATO, but long-delayed plans to have them join the alliance remain suspended. — Steven Erlanger
Mr. Trump will have to wait until he’s outside the NATO building to get to his Twitter account in order to reassure his many followers that he remains the @realdonaldtrump. — Steven Erlanger The next leg of Mr. Trump’s trip will take him to Britain from Thursday through Sunday, where he will be greeted with pomp and protests. The president will meet with Prime Minister Theresa May and Queen Elizabeth, while thousands of people are expected to flock to demonstrations against him.
NATO leaders are set to meet with their Ukrainian counterparts on Thursday to show solidarity with Kiev, in the face of the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2014, and Moscow’s continuing military support of rebels in eastern Ukraine. Buckingham Palace has released a detailed agenda for the visit with the queen on Friday. The queen will welcome the Trumps at the Quadrangle of Windsor Castle, where an honor guard will perform the national anthem and give a royal salute. Then it’s on to tea.
The meeting is pointed reminder from the West of the principle that one nation should not violate the territorial integrity of another, before Mr. Trump’s meeting with Mr. Putin in Finland. Talks on resolving the dispute in Ukraine have essentially stalled, and Western diplomats do not expect significant progress on the issue at the Helsinki summit meeting. The president will hopscotch across the London area by air, avoiding traffic, protests, and, yes, that giant, diapered-baby float. The U.S. Embassy has warned Americans in London to “keep a low profile” from Thursday until Saturday.
NATO leaders are also to meet with the leaders of Georgia on Thursday, in a similar show of support for Tbilisi against Russia, which has occupied parts of Georgia since 2008. On Saturday, Mr. Trump plans to travel to Scotland and stay at one of his golf resorts, Trump Turnberry, before flying the next day to Helsinki. — Katie Rogers
Ukraine and Georgia will be invited to discuss their progress in security and defense overhauls and their cooperation with NATO. Mr. Trump’s first summit meeting with Mr. Putin, will be parsed for countless layers of meaning.
Membership is a different matter, however. In 2008, at a summit meeting in Bucharest, NATO promised both Ukraine and Georgia eventual membership in the alliance, infuriating Mr. Putin. Those plans have been put on hold. — Steven Erlanger The West’s stance toward Russia is, as always, a central topic at the NATO meeting, and the United States’ European allies are worried that Mr. Trump aims to reduce the American security role in dealing with Moscow.
Military spending and NATO’s stance toward Russia will be central topics at the summit meetings, at a time when leaders of other Western countries worry about a reduced American security role in dealing with Moscow.
Russia is waging a proxy war against Ukraine, has forcibly annexed part of that country, has meddled in other nations’ elections, gives crucial support to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, and stands accused of using a chemical weapon on British soil.Russia is waging a proxy war against Ukraine, has forcibly annexed part of that country, has meddled in other nations’ elections, gives crucial support to the Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, and stands accused of using a chemical weapon on British soil.
After the NATO meeting, Mr. Trump will travel on Thursday to Britain, where he is scheduled to meet with Queen Elizabeth II and Prime Minister Theresa May. He will spend little time in London, where thousands of people are expected to attend protests against the president, who is not popular in Britain. The American Embassy warned U.S. citizens to “keep a low profile” during his visit because of the protests. Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign is under investigation for links to Russia, and Mr. Trump, who is quick to aim a barb at almost anyone else, has been reluctant to criticize Mr. Putin. Yet he and his aides bristle at allegations that he is not tough enough with the Kremlin.
On Saturday, Mr. Trump will travel to Scotland and stay at one of his golf resorts, Trump Turnberry. The next day, he will fly to Helsinki, before his meeting on Monday with Mr. Putin. The meeting with Mr. Putin will be closely analyzed for signs that Mr. Trump is friendlier to his Russian counterpart than to the leaders he is meeting in Brussels.
With Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign under investigation for links to Russia, and American relations with traditional allies strained, analysts will keep a close eye on whether a friendlier mood prevails when the two presidents meet.