WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump today said his meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin may prove easier than those with European allies, moments before departing for Brussels for a key NATO summit.
“Frankly, Putin may be the easiest of them all. Who would think?” Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One, referring to his upcoming meeting with the Russian leader in Helsinki. Trump also vowed not to be “taken advantage” of by the EU, who he says does not do enough to support the transatlantic alliance and takes unfair advantage of the US on trade.
“It’s certainly going to be an interesting time with NATO,” he told journalists. “NATO has not treated us fairly but I think we will work something out. We pay far too much and they pay far too little.” “But we will work it out and all countries will be happy.” Allies are bracing for what could be one of the most hostile meetings of the transatlantic group in years as Trump ramps up his criticism of longstanding European partners.
“The U.S. is spending many times more than any other country in order to protect them. Not fair to the U.S. taxpayer,” Trump tweeted earlier in the morning, calling the situation “Very Unfair!” “On top of that, we lose $151 Billion on Trade with the European Union. Charge us big Tariffs (& Barriers)!” he added.
A relevant piece published earlier: The choice of Helsinki as the location for the first long-awaited summit between presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin is a reminder of the Finnish capital’s Cold War history when it was the backdrop for a number of a key tete-a-tete between US and Russian leaders. The July 16 meeting between Trump and Putin is aimed at warming ties with Moscow, at a time when Russia’s relations with the West languish at levels not seen for decades. Finland shares a 1,340-kilometer (832-mile) border with Russia. Helsinki, a hotbed of spies during the Cold War, is located just three hours by train from Saint Petersburg and one hour by plane from the three Baltic states now members of NATO. As a result, it has served as neutral ground for meetings between US and Soviet or Russian leaders. “Finland was an in-between country in the Cold War era… It wanted to form this bridge and stressed its neutrality in its relations with the superpowers,” Teija Tiilikainen, director of the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, told the Media. (Published on 30th June 2018)
