Trump questions NATO countries reliance on Russian energy

Fox News:
President Donald Trump on Wednesday had a testy exchange with the head of NATO when he asked about energy agreements between Russia and several European countries.

Trump repeatedly pressed Jens Stoltenberg, NATO's secretary general, on why the U.S. continued to pay money to the military alliance while countries continue to purchase energy from Moscow.
...
“We are stronger together,” Stoltenberg insisted, but acknowledged that there can be differences among allies.

Still, Trump persisted.

“But how can you be together when you’re getting energy from the group you want protection from?” the president asked.
...
Trump used Germany as an example. He asked Stoltenberg to explain why Berlin was getting energy from Moscow, and asserted that Germany was "totally controlled" by and "captive to Russia" over a pipeline project.

The president appeared to be referring to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that would double the amount of gas Russia can send directly to Germany, skirting transit countries such as Ukraine. The project is opposed by the U.S. and some European Union members.

Trump said of Germany: "We're supposed to protect you against Russia and yet you make this deal with Russia."

“Explain that,” Trump said. “It can’t be explained."
...
Trump is right.  It is inexplicable. 

His point also cuts against his critics who have made the bogus charges that he is acting on behalf of Russia as President and is out to destroy NATO.  In fact, it looks like NATO is self destructing with its failure to live up to its own defense requirements while purchasing energy from Russia and become dependent on a hostile country when they could be buying it from the US a NATO ally or from others who are not hostile.

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