LATEST: Trump attacks Spain again: “it is a disaster” as a NATO partner | International
Global Update:
International observers are closely monitoring the latest developments as new information continues to emerge.
The president of the United States, Donald Trump, once again made clear this Wednesday his irritation with NATO allies who did not give him the use of military bases or other types of aid in the war in Iran. And he has dedicated his greatest criticism to Spain and what he considers to be this country’s lack of will to contribute to its NATO obligations. At the beginning of a meeting in the Oval Office with the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, the president described Spain as “a horror show” and insisted that “he doesn’t want to pay for anything. They believe they have everything for free.” The Republican president has also expressed his “disappointment” with Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, the countries that he considers did not want to contribute as he expected in the war against Iran. “Spain is not in a good group at all,” Trump maintained, while Rutte defended the European partners and their contribution to the Atlantic Alliance: “there have been isolated cases about which you are truly disappointed, but generally speaking, the European allies have responded.” Rutte is in Washington this week to try to smooth over differences between Donald Trump and European allies over military spending and the European position on the war against Iran, two weeks before the crucial Alliance summit in Ankara. After reaching a provisional agreement with Iran to end the war, the president and his Department of Defense have once again made clear their disdain for a NATO that they consider a waste to protect Europeans against Russia and of little or no use to Washington; After announcing in May a cut of 5,000 soldiers in US troops in Germany, he is now developing a six-month review of the presence of his soldiers and their equipment on the continent. Trump, who last Monday had already attacked the countries that he considers have turned their backs on him in Iran, assured during the meeting that he is only going to the summit in Ankara, on July 7 and 8, because his ally, Turkish President Recep Tayipp Erdogan, will be the host. “I would not have gone if the summit had not been in Ankara,” the American president stressed. Asked what he wants from European partners, he responded: “their loyalty.” “We have always fought for them. We have given them so much, and then you want them to make a small gesture, give you a little kiss. It’s not much. And they tell us no, they can’t.” Rutte is considered one of the European leaders with the greatest ability to connect with Trump, thanks, above all, to his ability to appeal to the president’s ego. At last year’s NATO summit in The Hague he even called him “daddy.” This time, knowing that the American is a man who prefers images to texts, he came armed with a series of large graphics that he presented in the Oval Office to defend his organization and its European partners. In one of them he showed the growth of European defense spending—“Trump’s trillion,” he flattered him—and, in another, the increase in investment from the Old Continent in the United States. Despite his defense of the Europeans, his first comments, before meeting this afternoon with the president of the United States behind closed doors at the White House, had further fueled the controversy. In the midst of a clash between the Republican and the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni over Rome’s refusal to allow the use of its bases for that war, the Dutchman assured in an interview with the Fox News network that 500 US military flights took off from those bases to participate in the conflict. In the interview, journalist Brett Baier asked him about the refusal of several European countries to participate in the conflict or allow the use of their bases for it – Spain and Italy, in particular -, alluding specifically to the case. from Rome. To which Rutte replied: “I completely understand the disappointment [de Trump]but (…) 500 US military planes took off from bases in Italy to support Operation Epic Fury”, the military nickname for the war. “It’s something huge,” he stressed. More information With his statements, Rutte wanted to send the message that Italy and the rest of the European partners are allies that the United States can trust. And, with this, appease Trump – an avid viewer of Fox News – and his Administration just when the president has resumed his complaints about what he considers a lack of help from the Europeans during the war. Both he and the Pentagon intend to cut the number of American equipment and troops stationed in Europe. But his words triggered an angry Italian protest. “authorized flights,” indicated the Italian Ministry of Defense. Trump and Meloni, last Friday at the G-7 held in France. ITALIAN PRIME MINISTRY HANDOUT (via REUTERS) Italy “has always acted in full respect of the Constitution, international treaties and parliamentary guidelines”, without allowing under any circumstances offensive or combat activities outside its current regulations, insists the Italian Executive in a statement that refers to the statement before Parliament of the person in charge of this portfolio, Guido Crosetto, who had assured that only “activities of a technical and logistical nature, not combat, were authorized within the framework of the procedures provided for in the current agreements.” Washington has more than 12,600 military personnel deployed in its four military bases on Italian soil: Vicenza, Aviano, Naples and Sicily. Denial of useRome denied in March the use of the Sigonella base, on the island of Sicily, for US flights related to the war in Iran, when determining that these were neither technical nor logistical activities as stated in the treaties. Any use of these facilities, according to the Meloni Government, is determined “on a case-by-case basis.” Given the new focus of controversy that was opening up within it, NATO has been quick to declare that Rutte was only referring to the flights provided for in the bilateral agreements and not to combat operations. overflights. The type of support he referred to is related to logistics or technical support,” the Alliance spokesperson, Allison Hart, has detailed. Rutte’s words, however, have rubbed salt on the wound. Trump and Meloni, solid allies until then, distanced themselves as a result of the refusal of the leader of the Brothers of Italy to allow the use of her bases for the war in the Middle East. Although at the G-7 summit held last week in Évian-les-Bains (France) both They seemed to reconcile, in a brief telephone interview Trump attacked the prime minister, stating that she had “begged” him to take a selfie together at that meeting and once again brought up the issue of the bases. To which Meloni replied that neither she nor Italy “ever beg”, while remembering that hers is a sovereign country. Trump again attacked the European allies on Monday, in particular against Germany and Italy, whom he accused of “very bad” behavior. “They say, ‘no, we’d rather not help.’ “It’s stupid to say that, because we can also say it to them, and maybe we will,” he repeated after insisting on his usual complaints about what constitutes NATO, in his particular vision: that Washington allocates hundreds of millions a year to protect Europe from Russia, but the allies do not reciprocate even in the slightest. In response to this supposed European passivity, the Pentagon announced in May that it would withdraw nearly 5,000 American soldiers from Germany within six months. The United States is also carrying out a broader review of its military presence and its bases on the continent, arguing that it wants to reinforce itself in other areas. Among them, the Asia-Pacific, Rutte plans, in addition to his meeting with Trump, to meet this Thursday with American legislators and give a speech at a think tank in the capital. His visit coincides with a meeting of Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and Poland in Berlin to prepare for the Atlantic Alliance summit and discuss a possible dialogue in the region. future with Russia on peace in Ukraine.
Key Developments:
Experts suggest the long-term impact of these developments may become clearer as more information emerges.
Additional reactions from governments and international institutions are expected as the situation evolves.
Readers are encouraged to monitor future developments as the situation evolves.
Source: This article was originally published by Internacional en EL PAÍS and adapted for our international English-speaking audience.
Read the original article here.