Germany ‘controlled’ by Russian energy, says Trump
US president could use his first official visit to UK to criticise Prime Minister’s Chequers plan, friends say
By Ben Riley-smith, James Crisp and Christopher Hope DONALD TRUMP accused Germany of being “totally controlled by Russia” yesterday in a blistering attack that overshadowed the Nato summit.
The US president accused Angela Merkel’s country of being “captive” to Russia because of its joint energy deals, including a proposed new gas pipeline.
He questioned why America was spending billions of dollars countering the Kremlin through Nato while European countries handed similar amounts to Russia in business deals.
Mr Trump also suggested that Nato’s 29 members should spend 4 per cent of their GDP on defence, double the 2 per cent target that all but a handful of countries already fail to meet.
The criticism drew a rebuttal from Mrs Merkel, who said Germany was “independent” and pointedly referred to her upbringing in the Soviet-controlled East.
The clash undermined the message of “strength and unity” that US officials had hoped would result from the twoday gathering in Brussels. But the worst fears of Nato officials – that Mr Trump would threaten to withdraw troops from Europe unless defence spending was increased – did not come to pass, with the president declining to issue the ultimatum when asked.
The row began yesterday morning when Mr Trump voiced his criticism in a meeting with Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato Secretary-general. He said: “Germany, as far as I’m concerned, is captive to Russia because it’s getting so much of its energy from Russia. So we’re supposed to protect Germany, but they’re getting their energy from Russia. Explain that. It can’t be explained.”
He singled out Nord Stream II, the proposed pipeline to carry natural gas between Russia and Germany. The project, led by the Russian state-owned company Gazprom, has been criticised because it increases the EU’S reliance on Russian energy.
Mr Trump claimed the deal would result in European countries paying “billions of dollars into the coffers of Russia”, which he said was “very inappropriate”. He added: “Germany is totally controlled by Russia, because they are getting 60 to 70 per cent of their energy from Russia and a new pipeline.” Russia was the source of between 50 and 75 per cent of Germany’s natural gas imports in 2017.
Mr Stoltenberg attempted to push back during the discussion, noting that “even during the Cold War, Nato allies were trading with Russia”.
However, when the German chancellor arrived at the summit three hours later, she said: “I have experienced myself how a part of Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union.”
Ms Merkel also defended her country’s contribution to the alliance, saying: “Germany does a lot for Nato.” The pair later met for talks, with both praising the strength of their relationship.
Mr Stoltenberg played down the row, saying: “We do have disagreements. But most importantly we have decisions that are pushing this alliance forwards and making us stronger.” Mr Trump flies to Britain this afternoon for a three-day visit.
DONALD TRUMP could voice support for a hard Brexit during his UK visit, allies of the president have predicted in a move that would pile pressure on Theresa May.
Sources close to Mr Trump have told
The Daily Telegraph that he is a supporter of a clean break with Brussels and may say so publicly if asked.
It raises the prospect that Mr Trump could criticise Mrs May’s “Chequers plan” which prompted the resignations of David Davis and Boris Johnson. Any supportive comments from the president would likely be jumped on by Eurosceptic rebels seeking to force Mrs May to abandon the proposals.
Mr Trump flies into Britain this afternoon for his first visit since becoming president 18 months ago. He will attend a black-tie dinner tonight at Blenheim Palace and tomorrow meet
Mrs May for talks at Chequers and later the Queen for tea at Windsor Castle.
Mrs May’s Chequers plan, in which Britain would match EU rules for goods and adopt a “mobility framework” for some EU workers, is a softer Brexit than previously outlined.
Mr Trump is an avid supporter of Brexit, previously having said the June 2016 referendum result foreshadowed the anti-establishment wave that swept him to power later that year.
One former senior White House source said that Mr Trump was a supporter of hard Brexit and predicted he could make his stance clear at the Blenheim
Palace dinner. Another close friend said: “Trump supported Brexit and liked the idea of Britain being independent and not owned by the EU. He has a general distaste for the EU. He thinks Germany secretly controls it.”
A third Trump ally based in Britain predicted: “[He] is going to express disappointment that the British government is not going to be in a position to negotiate a trade deal with the United States.” All eyes will be on Mr Trump to see whether he offers public support for Mrs May’s leadership.
He said the UK was in “turmoil” before flying into Europe on Tuesday and
suggested his UK visit would be harder than his forthcoming summit with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president. Mr Trump also suggested he could call his “friend” Mr Johnson, the former foreign secretary, during the trip. Woody Johnson, the US ambassador to the UK, did not rule out that meeting.
Speaking ahead of his visit, Mrs May said that the UK and the US would remain the strongest of allies after Brexit. “When we leave the European Union we will begin to chart a new course for Britain ... and our global alliances will be stronger than ever,” she said. “There is no stronger alliance than that of our
special relationship with the US and there will be no alliance more important in the years ahead.”
She wants to use the meeting with Mr Trump to set out how closely the UK works with the US across defence, security and foreign policy.
Yesterday Mrs May told Nato leaders Western countries must stick together to fight the threat from Russia. She urged Mr Trump to raise the case of the Salisbury nerve agent poisoning with Mr Putin when the pair meet on Monday. Her comments will be seen as an attempt to ensure that Mr Trump’s four-day visit to the UK is not over-
shadowed by the Us/russia summit. At a Nato summit dinner in Brussels Mrs May warned that Russia was engaged in a pattern of behaviour, such as the Salisbury nerve agent attack, which was intended to “undermine our democracies and damage our interests around the world”.
She said that allies must work together from a position of unity and strength “to raise the cost of malign behaviour whenever it occurs”.
♦ Protests over Mr Trump’s visit which are being led by allies of Jeremy Corbyn will require as many police officers as the London riots of 2011, the Met Police
has revealed. Tens of thousands of protesters, many said to be members of trade unions and Momentum, are expected to take to the streets.
The police operation for his trip is expected to cost at least £8million.
Asst Chief Constable Chris Shead of the National Police Coordination Centre said officers would be working 12-hour shifts.
He added: “Police forces are working together on a significant, multi-faceted security operation supporting the presidential visit … Nearly all police forces in England and Wales are providing officers and resources.”