{"id":44151,"date":"2018-07-11T14:09:48","date_gmt":"2018-07-11T14:09:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/07\/11\/trump-blasts-nato-allies-for-inaction-accuses-germany-of-being-under-russias-control\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T23:16:15","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T23:16:15","slug":"trump-blasts-nato-allies-for-inaction-accuses-germany-of-being-under-russias-control","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2018\/07\/11\/trump-blasts-nato-allies-for-inaction-accuses-germany-of-being-under-russias-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump blasts NATO allies for inaction, accuses Germany of being under Russia\u2019s control"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 U.S. President Donald Trump opened his European trip Wednesday by attacking NATO allies<\/a> for unfairly burdening the United States with their security needs and accusing Germany of being \u201ccaptive to Russia\u201d because of business interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The comments came at the start of a two-day NATO summit<\/a>, which White House officials insisted would highlight the strength of the alliance and the importance of cooperation between its members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But Trump, who in recent months has frequently complained about what he sees as insufficient defense spending<\/a> by other alliance members, used his first meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to again criticize the group for relying too much on American might and dollars for their security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSince our last meeting, commitments have been made for over $40 billion more money spent by other countries,\u201d Trump told reporters at the meeting. \u201cSo that\u2019s a step, but it\u2019s a very small step. \u2026 It\u2019s a very small amount of money relative to what they owe and to what they should be paying. And it\u2019s an unfair burden on the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t