AND any arrears...
Posted on 01/29/2017 9:33:39 PM PST by Fedora
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Donald Trump underscored the importance of the NATO alliance and vowed to work more closely together to combat terrorism and militancy, the two leaders said in a joint statement on Saturday.
Merkel and Trump spoke by telephone on Saturday about NATO, the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, their ties to Russia and the conflict in eastern Ukraine, according to a statement approved by both countries.
"The leaders recognized that NATO must be capable of confronting 21st century threats and that our common defense requires appropriate investment in military capabilities to ensure all allies are contributing their fair share to our collective security," Merkel and Trump said in the statement.
Trump accepted Merkel's invitation to attend a summit of G20 industrialized countries in Hamburg in July, and said he looked forward to welcoming Merkel to Washington soon. Germany is chairing the G20 group this year.
The statement made no mention of Trump's executive order limiting immigration or his moves to cancel free trade deals, issues that have drawn criticism from German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and other German officials in recent days.
Trump also spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Francois Hollande, whose office said he warned the U.S. leader about the economic and political consequences of protectionism.
The joint German-U.S. statement, by contrast, highlighted areas of common interest and stressed the importance of ties between the United States and Europe's largest economy. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
W I N N I N G !
The art of negotiating...
“Trump also spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Francois Hollande, whose office said he warned the U.S. leader about the economic and political consequences of protectionism.”
Well Francois it is not about protectionism as you see it, it is about America not getting the screwed by all these “deals”. President Trump is finally going to look out for this country. By the way make sure you pay your fare share of the NATO costs.
It’s all rather pointless to question how much each member of NATO pays.
If Poland withheld the payments to NATO and Russia invaded Poland, members of NATO, including the United States would defend Poland.
If Poland withheld the payments to NATO and Russia invaded Poland, members of NATO, including the United States would defend Poland."
So based on that screwed up logic, no one should pay, not even the US.
Did your mommy and daddy pay your credit card for you too?
AND any arrears...
That’s not quite the point.
To be more clear, our strategic, security and economic interests in Europe supersede our commitment to NATO.
"Militancy"....hmmmmm.
"Militancy - the use of confrontational or violent methods in support of a political or social cause."
Does this mean that they have joined forces to go after Occupy Wall Street, the Women's March, Rosie and Ashley?
Wonders never cease!
“It’s all rather pointless to question how much each member of NATO pays.
If Poland withheld the payments to NATO and Russia invaded Poland, members of NATO, including the United States would defend Poland.”
So based on that screwed up logic, no one should pay, not even the US.
***********************************************************
Make the defense of each Nation commensurate with its standing in NATO as far as up to date payments. Nations in arrears will get token defense and will have to supply more security on their own.
I read a week or so ago that Germany was reporting a very large surplus and yet was only paying a bit more than half what it is supposed to pay towards NATO.
I don't appreciate that. Do you?
Same deal as with Teresa May: Europe must pay fair share.
yesterday the enemedia said the phone call was about Merkel telling Trump he was violating “international law” by not taking his “fair share” of Syrian “refutees”.
This is same deal as the joint announcement with UK PM Teresa May earlier this week: Europe MUST pay fair
share of NATO. Looks like President Trump is making it loud and clear to NATA members what they must do
for the U.S. to continue to risk our treasure and blood for their sorry hides.
Heretofore, the enemedia reported about on all the threats to “fight” Trump etc. from various EU lower-level
officials. yesterday the enemedia even said the phone call was about Merkel telling Trump he was violating
“international law” by not taking his “fair share” of Syrian “refugees”.
[BTW, of all the various wire services, I’ve noticed reuters to be the only one even close to trustworthy in
terms of consistently REPORTING actual news, instead of simply always SPINNING “news”.]
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.