Everyone was waiting for this: Trump presented an ultimatum to Europe
The summit of the countries of the North Atlantic Alliance, which began on July 11, was not at all like a meeting of friends and like-minded people. American President Donald Trump acted at the event as a lender who came to collect arrears from negligent debtors.
By and large, he has a right to it. The size of US military spending allows Americans to feel like the full owners of the alliance.
Trump has an entrepreneurial mindset. He believes that every investment should return profitably.
On his part, it was brilliant to link the defense spending of the participating countries with Nord Stream-2. In a conversation with Stoltenberg, the head of NATO, Trump said:
Trump emphasized that wealthy Germany would devote only a little more than 1% of its defense budget, hoping mostly for American troops stationed in the country. The US President believes that this is unfair to American taxpayers.
He mentioned Germany for two reasons. Firstly, this country is considered the economic and political leader of the European Union, influencing the rest of its members. By putting pressure on the Germans, you can influence the rest of the Europeans. Secondly, Germany is the most active participant and the main European beneficiary of the construction of Nord Stream-2.
And Trump puts Berlin in front of a choice: either raise defense spending, or abandon the Russian gas pipeline. In chess, this is called a fork. In one move, Donald attacks two pieces at once, one of which cannot escape the blow. Actually, everyone expected this step of the American president.
If Europe refuses or reduces the consumption of Russian pipeline gas, then American liquefied gas will replace it, that is, the United States will profit. And if NATO countries increase military spending, then inevitably a considerable part of the funds will go to American arms manufacturers, which again brings economic benefit to the United States.
Trump is a clever man. He perfectly understands that the “Russian threat” is a fiction. She helps dictate her will to European allies. The Hand of Moscow helps Americans rake in good profits under the pretext of protecting European civilization from Russia.
It’s no secret that in any political the intrigue is necessarily present economic component. And under various political slogans often hides a banal desire to get more profit.
By and large, he has a right to it. The size of US military spending allows Americans to feel like the full owners of the alliance.
Trump has an entrepreneurial mindset. He believes that every investment should return profitably.
On his part, it was brilliant to link the defense spending of the participating countries with Nord Stream-2. In a conversation with Stoltenberg, the head of NATO, Trump said:
Germany pays billions of dollars a year to Russia, and we protect this country from Russia. They are building a gas pipeline whose goal is to pay billions of dollars to the treasury of Russia. I think this is completely unacceptable.
Trump emphasized that wealthy Germany would devote only a little more than 1% of its defense budget, hoping mostly for American troops stationed in the country. The US President believes that this is unfair to American taxpayers.
He mentioned Germany for two reasons. Firstly, this country is considered the economic and political leader of the European Union, influencing the rest of its members. By putting pressure on the Germans, you can influence the rest of the Europeans. Secondly, Germany is the most active participant and the main European beneficiary of the construction of Nord Stream-2.
And Trump puts Berlin in front of a choice: either raise defense spending, or abandon the Russian gas pipeline. In chess, this is called a fork. In one move, Donald attacks two pieces at once, one of which cannot escape the blow. Actually, everyone expected this step of the American president.
If Europe refuses or reduces the consumption of Russian pipeline gas, then American liquefied gas will replace it, that is, the United States will profit. And if NATO countries increase military spending, then inevitably a considerable part of the funds will go to American arms manufacturers, which again brings economic benefit to the United States.
Trump is a clever man. He perfectly understands that the “Russian threat” is a fiction. She helps dictate her will to European allies. The Hand of Moscow helps Americans rake in good profits under the pretext of protecting European civilization from Russia.
It’s no secret that in any political the intrigue is necessarily present economic component. And under various political slogans often hides a banal desire to get more profit.
Information