Big police operation ahead of president’s UK visit
DONALD TRUMP has launched a blistering attack on Germany, denouncing it as a “captive” of Russia, as he ramped up demands for Nato allies to pay more for their collective defence.
Arriving in Brussels yesterday for a two-day alliance summit, the US president said it was “totally inappropriate” that Germany was paying billions of dollars to Russia for oil and gas while spending little more than one per cent of its GDP on defence.
He said the deal to build a new pipeline meant Germany was now “totally controlled” by Moscow. German Chancellor Angela Merkel hit back, saying that having experienced life in Sovietcontrolled former East Germany, she was glad they could now “determine our own policies and make our own decisions”.
The barbed exchanges set the stage for another potentially stormy international summit after last month’s G7 meeting in Quebec ended in angry recriminations, leading some to question US support for the postwar international order.
Theresa May, who is preparing to host Mr Trump on his first visit to the UK as president, was at pains to stress Britain’s “steadfast” commitment to the alliance, announcing the deployment of 440 more troops to the Nato mission in Afghanistan.
The president launched his tirade against Germany during a meeting ahead of the main summit with Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg.
“I think it is very sad when Germany makes a massive oil and gas deal with Russia.
“We are supposed to be guarding against Russia and Germany goes out and pays billions and billions of dollars a year to Russia,” he said.
“We are protecting Germany, we are protecting France, we are protecting all of these countries, and then numerous of the countries go out and make a pipeline deal with Russia where they are paying billions of dollars into the coffers of Russia. I think that is very inappropriate.
“It should never have been allowed to happen. Germany is totally controlled by Russia because they will be getting 60 per cent to 70 per cent of their energy from Russia and a new pipeline. You tell me if that’s appropriate because I think it’s not,” he said.
Mr Stoltenberg appeared to be taken aback by the ferocity of Mr Trump’s onslaught, insisting other member states were committed to paying more, while acknowledging the need to go further. “I think that two world wars and the Cold War taught us that we are stronger together than apart,” he said.
The president however pressed on, demanding that the Germans increase their military spending “immediately” rather than over a period of years.
“Germany is a rich country. They talk about they are going to increase it a tiny bit by 2030. They could increase it immediately tomorrow and have no problem. We are going to have to do something. We can’t put up with it,” he said. “Germany is a captive of Russia. They got rid of their coal plants, they got rid of their nuclear – they are getting so much of the oil and gas from Russia.”
Mr Trump’s comments appeared to refer to the Nord Stream 2 undersea pipeline which will bring gas from Russia to Germany’s Baltic coast, bypassing Eastern European nations such as Poland and Ukraine and doubling the amount of gas Russia can send directly to Germany.
Arriving for the summit, Mrs Merkel was adamant that Germany remained independent and able to make its own decisions.
“I’ve experienced myself a part of Germany controlled by the Soviet Union and I’m very happy today that we are united in freedom as the Federal Republic of Germany and can thus say that we can determine our own policies and make our own decisions and that’s very good,” she said. ONE OF the biggest ever police operations will take place to cover the visit to the UK by US president Donald Trump which begins today.
Nearly every force in England and Wales has contributed officers to help with the massive mobilisation, the biggest since the 2011 riots.
Thousands of officers will be on duty to cover the visit, during which President Trump is expected to visit locations including Blenheim Palace, Chequers, Windsor Castle, the US ambassador’s official residence in Regent’s Park, London, and Scotland.
Mr Trump suggested Britain was in “turmoil” as he set off on a European trip taking in a Nato summit and face-to-face talks with Russian president Vladimir Putin as well as his first visit to the UK as president
He said he got along with Theresa May “very well”, but suggested he might make time during his UK visit to speak with his friend Boris Johnson, who has just rocked her Government by resigning as foreign secretary.
It was “up to the people” whether or not they want Mrs May to stay as Prime Minister, he added.
Police colleagues left behind in the home forces will cover the shortfall, with West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner David Jamieson warning that it will have a knock-on effect for months as officers take owed time off.
It is thought Mr Trump will avoid central London, where thousands of protesters are set to take to the streets and a controversial balloon depicting him as a giant baby will be flown near Westminster.
Assistant Chief Constable Chris Shead, from the National Police Co-ordination Centre, said: “Police forces are working together on a significant, multi-faceted security operation supporting the Presidential visit to the UK.
“Nearly all police forces in England and Wales are providing officers and resources to assist with the operations in areas hosting the visit. Following England’s World Cup match on Saturday, forces are reporting exceptionally heavy demand.”