President Trump on Wednesday demanded that NATO allies increase defense spending immediately and double their current goal for burden-sharing in the defense alliance. As Trump gathered with leaders of NATO countries for a summit in Brussels, he also repeatedly said Germany's energy dependence on Russia undermines its independence.
He blasted the German government for not spending more on defense and suggested that a 3-year-old energy supply agreement has left Germany "captive" to Russia. Hours later, though, Trump took a softer line during a face-to-face photo op with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"We have a very, very good relationship," Trump told reporters, hours after saying that "Germany is totally controlled by Russia" because of its reliance on Russian natural gas.
"I think it's very unfair to our country," Trump said. "It's very unfair to our taxpayer."
Trump later tweeted that Germany's energy arrangement undermines NATO and demanded allies increase defense spending immediately — not by a goal set for 2024, which the president seemed to misconstrue as 2025 in his tweet.
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04.27.2025