Trump lands in Europe, says Putin ‘easiest’ of his meetings
BRUSSELS — With Europe’s wary eyes upon him, President Donald Trump launched a weeklong trip there on Tuesday with harsh criticism for NATO allies and predicted his scheduled sit-down with Russian President Vladimir Putin “may be the easiest” leg of his journey.
As he departed the White House for a four-nation European tour, Mr. Trump did little to reassure allies fretting over the risk of damage he could do to the 69year-old trans-Atlantic mutual defense pact and his potential embrace of Mr. Putin during a summit in Finland.
Mr. Trump said Tuesday he “can’t say right now” if Mr. Putin is a friend or foe, but called him a “competitor.” The U.S. intelligence community has concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to boost Mr. Trump’s candidacy and warns of further attempts at interference both in the 2018 midterms and in European elections.
Mr. Trump arrived in Brussels on the eve of the NATO summit after repeated attacks on the pact. He told reporters in Washington before leaving, “Frankly, it helps them a lot more than it helps us,” and then later tweeted from Air Force One that he may demand reimbursements from the European member nations.
Mr. Trump has been pressing NATO countries to fulfill their goal of spending that 2 percent of their gross domestic products on defense by 2024. During his presidential campaign, he suggested he might only come to the defense of NATO nations that fulfilled their obligation. And a year ago, during his first visit to its Belgium headquarters, Mr. Trump initially declined to explicitly support the organization’s defense agreement.
Such comments have stirred unease not just in Europe, but in Washington. A bipartisan resolution, set to be endorsed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday, pointedly voices support for NATO as strategically important for the collective security of the trans-Atlantic region.
Mr. Trump, who landed in Belgium during the middle of the soccer-mad nation’s World Cup semifinals match, will later head to London, where Prime Minister Theresa May’s government is in turmoil over her plans for exiting the European Union.
European Council President Donald Tusk said on Tuesday in a message to Mr. Trump that “it is always worth knowing who is your strategic friend and who is your strategic problem,” and that America should “appreciate” its allies — “After all, you don’t have that many.” Mr. Tusk recalled that the Europeans are spending more than Russia and as much as China on defense. NATO estimates that 15 members, or just over half, will meet the benchmark by 2024based on current trends.
“Getting ready to leave for Europe. First meeting — NATO. The U.S. is spending many times more than any other country in order to protect them,” Mr. Trump tweeted Tuesday morning, adding: “Not fair to the U.S. taxpayer. On top of that we lose$151 Billion on Trade with the European Union. Charge usbig Tariffs (& Barriers)!”
On Monday, he’d tweeted the situation was “not fair, nor is it acceptable” and insisted that NATO benefits Europe “far more than it does the U.S.”
He added: “NATO countries must pay MORE, the United States must pay LESS. Very Unfair!”
Ahead of the NATO meetings that begin here Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg tried to strike an optimistic note and play down the simmering disputes.
“Our summit comes at a time when some are questioning the strength of the trans-Atlantic bond, and I would not be surprised if we have robust discussions at the summit, including on defense spending,” Mr. Stoltenberg told reporters Tuesday. “Different views are normal among friends and allies, but I am confident that we will agree on the fundamentals.”
Also, Mr. Trump — who has compared the sentiment that underpinned the Brexit vote to leave the EU to his own election — will be making his maiden presidential trip to Britain at a fraught time for Ms. May. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary David Davis resigned within hours of each other in protest of her plan. Mr. Trump said he might meet with Mr. Johnson in the U.K. despite his resignation.