BRUSSELS — President Donald Trump on Wednesday accused fellow NATO ally Germany of being beholden to Russia because it buys energy from Moscow, in pointed remarks ahead of a summit of the military alliance in Brussels.
“Germany is a captive of Russia,” Trump said at a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, his first since arriving in the Belgian capital. “It’s very inappropriate.”
Trump went on to complain that the United States is expected to “defend them against Russia,” despite Germany making “billions of dollars” in energy payments to Moscow. “I think it’s something that NATO has to look at,” Trump said.
Stoltenberg pushed back on Trump’s comments, saying that while there may be differences of opinion within the alliance, “we are stronger together than apart.”
Trump retorted by again asking how the NATO alliance could be stronger when Germany is “making Russia richer.”
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“Germany as far as I understand is captive to Russia,” Trump repeated again.
Trump’s comments came ahead of his arrival at NATO headquarters where he is expected to meet with and pose for photos with fellow leaders of the alliance.
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