Marc Champion, Patrick Donahue and Hayley Warren, Bloomberg: Trump Is Itching for a Fight at NATO
When Donald Trump barrels into Brussels this week demanding that NATO allies boost their defense spending, the response will be: We already are. But for the U.S. president, military budgets are only one line of attack. From “easy to win’’ trade wars to the system of setting oil prices, Trump is on a mission to rip up the world order and remake it in what he sees as America’s interests. That includes targeting multilateral institutions such as the World Trade Organization and the Group of Seven. As Trump prepares to meet with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, North Atlantic Treaty Organization leaders studying the president’s tweets would be forgiven for wondering if NATO is next in his sights.
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WNU Editor: When you read reports that Germany's submarine fleet is not working, only a few of its fighter jets are operationsal, and that it tanks and other armored forces are ineffective .... President Trump does have reasons to bring up his concerns to German Chancellor Merkel and to other NATO leaders on their defense commitments.
More News And Analysis On President Trump Flying To Europe For This Week's NATO Summit
Europeans brace for worst from Trump at stormy Nato summit -- The Guardian
Trump ramps up NATO criticism ahead of summit -- The Hill
Trump blasts NATO again as he departs for Europe: 'US is spending many times more than any other country' -- CNBC
Trump prepares to tackle dicey spending issue at NATO summit -- Washington Examiner
Trump-Nato summit: EU's Tusk warns president to appreciate allies -- BBC
EU official criticizes Trump over attitude toward allies -- ABC News/AP
Analysis | President Trump goes to Europe this week. Its leaders are bracing for the impact. -- Washington Post
Trump will go into NATO summit in a position of strength -- S.A. Miller, Washington Times
Even the Best-Case Scenario for What Trump Does at the NATO Summit Is Pretty Grim -- Heather Hurlburt, NYMag
How NATO can survive Trump and Putin -- Peter Apps, Reuters
Friend or foe at NATO? Who knows when Trump comes to dinner -- FOX News/AP
NATO in the Age of Trump: What It Can and Can’t Accomplish Absent U.S. Leadership -- Julianne Smith and Jim Townsend, Foreign Affairs
