Trump Nato: EU's Tusk warns president to appreciate allies

[Mordac]

Does the UK enough patrol vessels to defend fishing waters - should we call NATO?

The US should pay more than any nation, they want to keep their weapons in the EU to point at Russia. And that's nothing to do with protecting the EU.

We could just use our nuclear submarines for their intended purpose.

[Old Greg]

Neither you, nor I, nor I would suggest anyone born in the next 250 years will see that!

A good dose of nuclear war could easily achieve that,

[tomtomagain]

An issue for the EU/NATO/Europe is that Trump is not afraid to combine grievances.

Whereas most politicians would not seek to combine trade-related matters ( 151B deficit, unfair barriers to trade ) and security issues ( partners not paying their fair share ) Trump has no such compunction.

For him its all part of the narrative he's constructed for his voter base which is "Everyone is taking advantage of the USA".

Unfortunately, the majority of NATO countries have not met the commitment they signed up to, which is to pay 2% of GDP into defence and this makes them a very easy target for his ire. It's an easy message to sell back home in the rust-belt ( "Your taxes pay for the defence of Germans, who don't pay enough for their own protection and trade unfairly, costing you your jobs" )

As a European, you may disagree with this analysis but that is totally is irrelevant to Trump. You ain't never voting for him. You are not the target of his message.

... so a tricky situation for NATO/EU. Germany could just commit to buying the output of the North American shale fields for the next 20 years, that would probably shut him up.

[d000hg]

But what he is saying is true. A great many countries benefit from Nato and should contribute more to their own defence.

Even a stopped clock...

[woohoo]

An issue for the EU/NATO/Europe is that Trump is not afraid to combine grievances.

Whereas most politicians would not seek to combine trade-related matters ( 151B deficit, unfair barriers to trade ) and security issues ( partners not paying their fair share ) Trump has no such compunction.

For him its all part of the narrative he's constructed for his voter base which is "Everyone is taking advantage of the USA".

Unfortunately, the majority of NATO countries have not met the commitment they signed up to, which is to pay 2% of GDP into defence and this makes them a very easy target for his ire. It's an easy message to sell back home in the rust-belt ( "Your taxes pay for the defence of Germans, who don't pay enough for their own protection and trade unfairly, costing you your jobs" )

As a European, you may disagree with this analysis but that is totally is irrelevant to Trump. You ain't never voting for him. You are not the target of his message.

... so a tricky situation for NATO/EU. Germany could just commit to buying the output of the North American shale fields for the next 20 years, that would probably shut him up.

The narrative is true to an extent. Germany will threaten along with the EU to create an EU army they may even put together a small fund for some kind of centralisation. They know that America doesn't want to break up Nato (perhaps Trump does but most others don't) so it will be used as a bargaining chip.

Truth is Germany has done well out of Nato and should contribute more, as you said and purchase something.

China does need to open it's markets and Germany does need to balance it's economy so it buys something.

I think Trump is a dick but he is shaking things up.

[scooterscot]

It's all about money - he see's the US as his latest business and is running it the way he runs his property business - being tough, uncompromising and getting the best deal for himself..

His business track record may lead is voting base in for the mother of all disappointments!

Had he kept his small loan of $1m from his father in the bank he'd be a richer man today.

[Mordac]

Do as Trump says is no longer allowed? Exactly why should we subject to his bereft policies but someone are not allowed to copy them?

I've no dislike of the US, but the presidential system no longer works for the USA. It is time the United states broke up and acted like individual countries. In fact that's already happening. What you accuse me of is already happening with democrat states, who generate 80% of US GDP. A number of them are creating their own currency. The greatest enemy to the US is from the US itself.

Maybe one day this could happen in Europe...

[scooterscot]

Maybe one day this could happen in Europe...

It already has.

Are you confusing Europe and EU to be the same thing? You'd make a good leave voter.

[Zigenare]

A good dose of nuclear war could easily achieve that,

To paraphrase Monsieur Diderot - "Not until the last politician is strangled with the entrails of the last cleric!"

[Hobosapien]

An issue for the EU/NATO/Europe is that Trump is not afraid to combine grievances.

Whereas most politicians would not seek to combine trade-related matters ( 151B deficit, unfair barriers to trade ) and security issues ( partners not paying their fair share ) Trump has no such compunction. ...

That's because Trump's grand plan is to offer the UK a trade deal and the UK becomes sole reseller of USA weapons to the EU.

I presume NATO members are not allowed to buy weapons from Russia so the market is cornered. Well played.