Trumps slams gas pipeline deal, calls Germany Russian ‘captive’

Trump said it was “very inappropriate” that the United States was paying for European defence against Russia while the richest European state Germany supported gas deals with Moscow.

world Updated: Jul 11, 2018 14:13 IST

NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg (L) listens while US President Donald Trump makes a statement for the press before a meeting breakfast at the US chief of mission's residence in Brussels on Wednesday. (AFP Photo)

US president Donald Trump launched a forceful public attack on German support for a Baltic Sea gas pipeline deal with Russia on Wednesday, saying Berlin was a “captive to Russia” and criticising its failure to raise defence spending by more.

In comments to NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg as the two met in front of reporters before a NATO summit in Brussels, Trump said it was “very inappropriate” that the United States was paying for European defence against Russia while the richest European state Germany supported gas deals with Moscow.

He is due to meet German chancellor Angela Merkel at the summit later in the day and will meet Russian president Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday.

(This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.)