Donald Trump blasts Nato during tubthumping Brussels speech saying members owe the US ‘massive amounts of money’ after years of ‘not paying their fair share’
Trump is not impressed with his fellow Nato members' cash contribution to the cause
PRESIDENT Donald Trump lectured members of the NATO alliance about paying their fair share on defence during a ceremony at NATO headquarters.
Trump says NATO members must “finally contribute their fair share” and meet their obligations to increase military spending to two per cent of GDP by 2024.
Trump says 23 of the 28 member nations are not paying what they should and he says it’s “not fair” to the people of the United States.
He says many of these nations owe “massive” amounts of money from previous years.
The president, speaking as the other NATO leaders looked on, said: “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 defence.
DID TRUMP SHOVE A WORLD LEADER?
CRINGE-INDUCING footage shows Donald Trump pushing a fellow Nato leader out the way in a brazen display of power politics..
Filmed at the Nato headquarters in Brussels, the clip shows the brash President bulldozing his way to the front of a group of world leaders and appeared to push the Prime Minister of Montenegro Duško Marković aside.
Trump has been accused of “alpha male” behaviour in the past and is known for his curious pulling handshake and once stood intimidatingly close to the-rival Hilary Clinton during a debate.
“This is not fair to the people and taxpayers of the United States. Many of these nations owe massive amounts of money from past years,” he added, repeating a charge he had raised constantly on the campaign trail.
He added that Monday’s bombing in Manchester on Monday, claimed by ISIS, showed that “terrorism must be stopped in its tracks.”
Trump’s harsh words came despite NATO saying it would formally endorse joining the US-led coalition against ISIS at the summit, in the face of reservations in France and Germany about getting involved in another conflict.
Trump has so far refused to personally commit to abiding by Article 5, which commits allies to defend any of the 28 members that come under attack.
But Press Secretary Sean Spicer says, “It goes without saying” that Trump’s presence at the event underscores the White House’s “commitments and treaty obligations.”
Trump spoke at the unveiling of a steel beam from the 107th floor of one of the World Trade Center towers at the new NATO headquarters in Brussels.
It’s intended as a reminder of NATO’s commitment to its collective defense clause. Article 5 has only been activated once, after 9/11.
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday that “of course” the United States supports Article 5.
Earlier Trump, whose own election last year shocked the pollsters, met new French President Emmanuel Macron – and said the 39-year-old “ran an incredible campaign and had a tremendous victory”.
He added: “All over the world they’re talking about it.”
As he welcomed Macron to the US embassy in Brussels, he added: “We have a lot to discuss, including terrorism and other things.
“Congratulations. Great job.”
Macron said “I’m also very happy to be with President Trump.
“We have an extremely large agenda to discuss: the fight against terrorism, the economy, climate and energy.”
Macron was elected over far-right opponent Marine Le Pen in the French presidential runoff earlier this month.
Trump called him after his victory to congratulate him.
Earlier Macron, 39, said he expects to discuss defence and security issues during the meeting.
He has been critical of Trump in the past, including denouncing Trump’s musings on abandoning the Paris climate treaty.
Trump’s focus during this trip is expected to be terrorism and he has called for NATO to step up the fight against the jihadis.
Last night he said: “When you see something like what happened a few days ago you realise how important it is to win this fight.
“And we will win this fight.”
This morning President Donald Trump got to meet two European Union Presidents at the same time.
Under the convoluted rules of the 28-nation bloc, Donald Tusk presides over the Council of EU leaders and chairs summit meetings while Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker heads the EU executive.
“You know, Mr President, we have two presidents in the EU,” Tusk said as they started their meeting.
“I know that,” Trump said.
Juncker joked: “There is one too much.”
Meanwhile, US first lady Melania Trump, who has revealed she is a devout Catholic, cheered up children in a Belgian hospital with Dr Seuss books and crepe paper flowers while her husband met with European Union leaders.
Young patients at the Queen Fabiola Children’s University Hospital used a sketch toy to make a sign reading “Welcome Mrs Trump.”