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| NATO Summit Updates: Trump Says Alliance Is ‘Delinquent’ on Military Spending | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Right Now: Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected President Trump’s claim that Germany is “captive” to Russia. | |
| • 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 has disparaged NATO, and a meeting on Wednesday with the alliance’s secretary general got off to a confrontational start when he said other nations must spend more on defense and that Germany was “captive to Russia” on energy. | • Mr. Trump has disparaged NATO, and a meeting on Wednesday with the alliance’s secretary general got off to a confrontational start when he said other nations must spend more on defense and that Germany was “captive to Russia” on energy. |
| • Mr. Trump has upended generations of American diplomacy, antagonizing and belittling traditional allies over issues like defense and trade, while refraining from criticizing Russia, a traditional adversary. | • Mr. Trump has upended generations of American diplomacy, antagonizing and belittling traditional allies over issues like defense and trade, while refraining from criticizing Russia, a traditional 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 summit 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 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. |
| “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 United States 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 United States 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.” |
| In March, Germany gave approval for Gazprom, the Russian energy titan, to construct the Nord Stream 2 pipeline through its waters, a $10 billion project. | In March, Germany gave 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” because of the oil and gas issue, Mr. Trump said. “I think it’s something that NATO has to look at.” |
| Mr. Stoltenberg countered that “despite differences,” NATO was about uniting “to protect and defend each other.” | Mr. Stoltenberg countered that “despite differences,” NATO was about uniting “to protect and defend each other.” |
| 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 | 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.” | |
| 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. | |
| “Germany does a lot for NATO,” she said, adding that, in the process, Germans “defend the interests of the United States.” | |
| American presidents have long pressed other NATO nations to increase military spending. But Mr. Trump’s insistence that they owe money to the organization or to the United States 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.) | American presidents have long pressed other NATO nations to increase military spending. But Mr. Trump’s insistence that they owe money to the organization or to the United States 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.) |
| 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 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. |
| 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 defense, most of them 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 has agreed that each member country should spend at least 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense, most of them do not. But none has failed to comply with 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 of them are expected to meet the goal in 2018. | According to NATO, all member countries have significantly raised military spending since 2014, and eight of them are expected to meet the goal in 2018. |
| 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 in arrears in paying for their defense? No. — Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Steven Erlanger | 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 in arrears in paying for their defense? No. — Julie Hirschfeld Davis and Steven Erlanger |
| Even before the meeting between Mr. Trump and Mr. Stoltenberg, NATO leaders were trying to figure out how to be polite but firm with a United States president who disparages multilateral alliances, and dispenses with the usual platitudes in favor of lashing out on Twitter. | Even before the meeting between Mr. Trump and Mr. Stoltenberg, NATO leaders were trying to figure out how to be polite but firm with a United States president who disparages multilateral alliances, and dispenses with the usual platitudes in favor of lashing out on Twitter. |
| Generations of United States policymakers have seen NATO as a bedrock of Western security, but Mr. Trump describes its members mostly as a bunch of freeloaders, riding on the coattails of American military spending without holding up their end of the deal. | Generations of United States policymakers have seen NATO as a bedrock of Western security, but Mr. Trump describes its members mostly as a bunch of freeloaders, riding on the coattails of American military spending without holding up their end of the deal. |
| “NATO countries must pay MORE, the United States must pay LESS,” Mr. Trump tweeted on Tuesday, before departing for Brussels. He also reiterated the claim he has used to justify tariffs he recently imposed: That unfair practices are to blame for the U.S. trade deficit with Europe and other regions of the world. | “NATO countries must pay MORE, the United States must pay LESS,” Mr. Trump tweeted on Tuesday, before departing for Brussels. He also reiterated the claim he has used to justify tariffs he recently imposed: That unfair practices are to blame for the U.S. trade deficit with Europe and other regions of the world. |
| Where his predecessors have spoken warmly of the allies and warned of Russian aggression, Mr. Trump has had harsh words for NATO, which he has called “obsolete,” and member countries like Canada and Germany, while rarely criticizing Russia. | Where his predecessors have spoken warmly of the allies and warned of Russian aggression, Mr. Trump has had harsh words for NATO, which he has called “obsolete,” and member countries like Canada and Germany, while rarely criticizing Russia. |
| Privately, leaders of other NATO countries wonder if the president just wants to goad them into raising military spending and strengthen the alliance, or if he would prefer to abandon it. Either way, his approach, using overt threats and insults, is a far cry from the usual diplomatic give-and-take, and his counterparts are wary of provoking Mr. Trump. | Privately, leaders of other NATO countries wonder if the president just wants to goad them into raising military spending and strengthen the alliance, or if he would prefer to abandon it. Either way, his approach, using overt threats and insults, is a far cry from the usual diplomatic give-and-take, and his counterparts are wary of provoking Mr. Trump. |
| Aside from military spending, NATO allies are more at odds with American policy than they have been many years, disagreeing on issues like his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate accords, and the trade war he has started. | Aside from military spending, NATO allies are more at odds with American policy than they have been many years, disagreeing on issues like his withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate accords, and the trade war he has started. |
| 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. |
| 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. | |
| Mr. Stoltenberg gamely stuck to his insistence that dissension does not undermine the alliance, even as Mr. Trump continued to denigrate it. | Mr. Stoltenberg gamely stuck to his insistence that dissension does not undermine the alliance, even as Mr. Trump continued to denigrate it. |
| “We see differences, disagreements between allies,” he said on Wednesday. “I’m confident that despite discussions, disagreements, we will decide and we will deliver.” | “We see differences, disagreements between allies,” he said on Wednesday. “I’m confident that despite discussions, disagreements, we will decide and we will deliver.” |
| “Two World Wars and the Cold War taught us we are stronger together than apart,” Mr. Stoltenberg said. | “Two World Wars and the Cold War taught us we are stronger together than apart,” Mr. Stoltenberg said. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The “pull-aside” talks are to come after the president attends formal meetings with NATO allies. . | The “pull-aside” talks are to come after the president 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 he raised Wednesday morning 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 could be awkward, given Mr. Trump’s recent criticisms of Europe, and Germany in particular. | The talks could be awkward, given Mr. Trump’s recent criticisms of Europe, and Germany in particular. |
| 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 | 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 |
| Perhaps nowhere is European fear about American intentions more pronounced than in the Baltic States — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. | Perhaps nowhere is European fear about American intentions more pronounced than in the Baltic States — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| 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. | 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. |
| With heads of state taking care not to poke Mr. Trump, Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, has emerged as the Continent’s most prominent and pointed critic of the president. | With heads of state taking care not to poke Mr. Trump, Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, has emerged as the Continent’s most prominent and pointed critic of the president. |
| Mr. Tusk, one of the leaders of the European Union, has no formal role in NATO, but the two groups have a large overlap in membership. On Tuesday they signed a statement of cooperation. | Mr. Tusk, one of the leaders of the European Union, has no formal role in NATO, but the two groups have a large overlap in membership. On Tuesday they signed a statement of cooperation. |
| Mr. Tusk has made clear that he is paying close attention to the summit, he has a megaphone, and he’s not afraid to use it. Tweaking and refuting Mr. Trump, often slyly and sometimes quite directly, his comments are widely seen to reflect what other European leaders are thinking but are unwilling to say publicly. | Mr. Tusk has made clear that he is paying close attention to the summit, he has a megaphone, and he’s not afraid to use it. Tweaking and refuting Mr. Trump, often slyly and sometimes quite directly, his comments are widely seen to reflect what other European leaders are thinking but are unwilling to say publicly. |
| The United States “doesn’t have and won’t have a better ally than EU,” whose members combined spend more on defense than Russia, he tweeted on Wednesday. “I hope you have no doubt this is an investment in our security.” | The United States “doesn’t have and won’t have a better ally than EU,” whose members combined spend more on defense than Russia, he tweeted on Wednesday. “I hope you have no doubt this is an investment in our security.” |
| In June, after Mr. Trump’s angry exit from the Group of 7 summit and his broadside at Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister who played host to that meeting, Mr. Tusk tweeted, “There is a special place in heaven for @JustinTrudeau.” | In June, after Mr. Trump’s angry exit from the Group of 7 summit and his broadside at Justin Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister who played host to that meeting, Mr. Tusk tweeted, “There is a special place in heaven for @JustinTrudeau.” |
| He used sharper language in May, after Mr. Trump withdrew from the Iran agreement and announced trade sanctions. Mr. Tusk tweeted, “with friends like that who needs enemies.” | He used sharper language in May, after Mr. Trump withdrew from the Iran agreement and announced trade sanctions. Mr. Tusk tweeted, “with friends like that who needs enemies.” |
| Mr. Trump enjoys sending Twitter barbs at his adversaries, but he will be restrained during the NATO summit meeting. | Mr. Trump enjoys sending Twitter barbs at his adversaries, but he will be restrained during the NATO summit meeting. |
| 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. | 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. |
| So at least for the hours he is with other leaders, Mr. Trump will be under a cone of silence. | So at least for the hours he is with other leaders, Mr. Trump will be under a cone of silence. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Ukraine and Georgia will be invited to discuss their progress in security and defense overhauls and their cooperation with NATO. | Ukraine and Georgia will be invited to discuss their progress in security and defense overhauls and their cooperation with NATO. |
| 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 | 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 |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |