Respect the allies you have
IS PUTIN FRIEND OR FOE OF US?
European Council President Donald Tusk yesterday told US President Donald Trump to stop berating Nato allies over military investment levels ahead of what is expected to be a fraught alliance summit.
Before taking off for Brussels, Trump again chided fellow Nato members for not contributing enough to the alliance while maintaining a trade surplus with the United States, his latest reprimand on issues that are straining transatlantic relations.
"Dear America, appreciate your allies, after all you don't have that many," Tusk, a former Polish prime minister, said after a signing statement on more cooperation between the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, although he also accepted Europe should spend more on defence.
Many US presidents have urged European governments to spend more on their militaries. But Trump has intensified the demands to such an extent that allies worry it could damage Nato morale and play into the hands Russian President Vladimir Putin, who they accuse of trying to divide and destabilise the West.
"Dear President Trump: America does not have, and will not have a better ally than Europe," said Tusk, who chairs summits of EU leaders. "Today, Europeans (collectively) spend on defence many times more than Russia, and as much as China." He said that money went towards both US and European security when the United States regards Russia and China as threats.
Trump's tweet yesterday echoed earlier posts on Twitter on Monday and his criticism at a rally of supporters in the United States last week, in which he said that Washington was unfairly carrying almost all the cost of defending Europe.
"Getting ready to leave for Europe. First meeting - Nato. The US is spending many times more than any other country in order to protect them. Not fair to the US taxpayer," Trump said.
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