Trump scolds NATO on costs
European allies give president cool reception
BRUSSELS — President Donald Trump on Thursday punctured any illusions that he was on a fence-mending tour of Europe, declining to explicitly endorse NATO’s mutual defense pledge and lashing out at members for what he called their “chronic underpayments” to the alliance.
On a tense day when Trump brought the “America first” themes of his presidential campaign to the very heart of Europe, he left European leaders visibly unsettled, with some openly lamenting divisions with the United States on trade,
climate and the best way to confront Russia.
The discord was palpable even in the body language. When Trump greeted Emmanuel Macron, France’s new president, the two leaders, jaws clenched, grabbed each other’s hands in an extended grip that turned Trump’s knuckles white. When the leaders lined up to pose for the traditional photograph of leaders at NATO headquarters, Trump appeared to push aside Montenegro’s prime minister, Dusko Markovic, to get to his assigned place in the front.
The split was starkest at NATO headquarters, where Trump used the dedication of a new building to lecture allies on their financial contributions. Far from robustly reaffirming NATO’s mutual defense commitment in the way that many members hoped he would, Trump repeated his complaint that the U.S. was shouldering an unfair burden.
“Twenty-three of the 28 member nations are still not paying what they should be paying and what they’re supposed to be paying for their defense,” Trump said, as the leaders shifted uncomfortably behind him, shooting one another sidelong glances.
“This is not fair to the people and taxpayers of the United States,” he said. “And many of these nations owe massive amounts of money from past years and not paying in those past years.”
Standing before a large piece of twisted wreckage from the World Trade Center that will serve as a memorial at the headquarters, Trump promised to “never forsake the friends that stood by our side” in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks — a pledge that White House officials said amounted to an affirmation of mutual defense.
But to European allies, Trump’s words fell far short of an explicit affirmation of NATO’s Article 5 clause, the “one-for-all, all-for-one” principle that has been the foundation of NATO since its establishment 68 years ago, after World War II.
“I think he was stingy with the U.S. commitment and very generous with his criticisms,” said Fabrice Pothier, a former head of policy planning at NATO.
White House officials said Trump’s message on financial contributions had galvanized NATO to confront the issue of financial contributions. At a closed meeting after his speech, they said, the leaders unanimously approved a resolution on burden-sharing and on fighting terrorism.
“To see unanimous support for the two main priorities of the president is a great way to start it off,” said Sean Spicer, the press secretary. “When you have an entire meeting that is focused on the president’s agenda, that shows the power of his message.”
Publicly, though, the other leaders appeared less gratified than bewildered. During a photo session, none of them spoke to Trump, except for secretary-general of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg. Afterward, several surrounded Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who has emerged as the strongest counterweight to the president.
Earlier in the day, Trump, a blunt critic of the European Union during his campaign, received a chilly reception from his European counterparts as they began meetings in Brussels.
His first meeting with the Continent’s leaders began with officials from the United States and Europe saying nothing to each other. After being welcomed to Brussels, Trump said, “Thank you very much,” but he was otherwise silent as he gazed at the cameras across the room.
Donald Tusk, who represents leaders of the bloc’s 28 member states as president of the European Council, made it clear after the meeting that there had been several areas of disagreement.
“Some issues remained open like climate and trade,” Tusk said. “And I am not 100 percent sure that wecansaytoday—‘we’meansMr. President and myself — that we have a common position, common opinion, about Russia.”
The White House put a more positive spin on the day, saying the leaders discussed ways to deepen cooperation in fighting the Islamic State and reaffirmed “the strong bond between the United States and Europe, anchored in shared values and longstanding friendship.”