BRUSSELS – European Council President Donald Tusk wants U.S. President Donald Trump to remember “who is your strategical friend and who is your strategical problem” ahead of Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that will take place in Helsinki on July 16.
Tusk made the statement on July 10 in Brussels when signing a joint declaration on the European Union and NATO cooperation with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
The three signed the cooperation agreement on the eve of the NATO summit that will take place July 11-12 in Brussels in an atmosphere of uncertainty because of Trump’s approaching meeting with Putin and his policy towards NATO and Russia. Recently Trump has memorably declined to rule out recognizing Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea, marking yet another pro-Russian swing in his mood.
Also, right before traveling to the NATO summit, Trump rebuked his NATO partners, complaining that they spend too little on defense comparing to the U.S. which is “not fair,” he tweeted on July 9.
Tusk addressed this issue, too, in his statement.
“Dear President Trump, America does not have, and will not have a better ally than Europe,” Tusk said. “Today Europeans spend on defense many times more than Russia, and as much as China. And I think you can have no doubt that this is an investment in common American and European defense and security. Which can’t be said with confidence about Russian or Chinese spending.”
At the same time, Tusk agreed that European countries should increase defense spending.
“Dear America, appreciate your allies, after all you don’t have that many. And dear Europe, spend more on your defense, because everyone respects an ally that is well-prepared and equipped,” he said. “Money is important, but genuine solidarity is even more important.”
Tusk dispelled Trump’s statement about the U.S. alone protecting Europe against enemies. He reminded Trump that Europe was first to respond to the 9/11 attacks, and sent European troops to Afghanistan to “fight shoulder-to-shoulder with American soldiers.”
“Dear Mr. President, please remember about this tomorrow, when we meet at the NATO summit, but above all when you meet President Putin in Helsinki,” Tusk said.
This isn’t the first time when Tusk rebuked Trump’s policy towards Europe. In May, Tusk said that with friends like Trump, one doesn’t need enemies.
