Trump Attacks Germany Over Russian Gas Reliance at NATO Summit

CNBC International Live

Trump claims Germany has compromised its independence and NATO security by funding Moscow through gas pipelines while leaving U.S. taxpayers to shoulder European defense costs.

AI-assisted summary of Germany is 'totally controlled' by Russia, Trump says | Squawk Box Europe — original source. Check the original for full context.

Source published: 2018-07-11

Key ideas

President Donald Trump accused Germany of being 'totally controlled by Russia' due to its reliance on Russian energy imports and support for new pipeline projects. (0:00)
Trump highlighted a stark defense burden-sharing imbalance, contrasting the U.S. defense expenditure of 4.2% of GDP against Germany's commitment of just over 1%. (0:00)
Trump rejected Germany's extended timeline to implement minor defense spending increases by 2030, urging the wealthy nation to increase military funding immediately. (0:00)
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg defended alliance cohesion, asserting that 29 sovereign nations can hold differing views on energy while remaining stronger together. (3:21)

Detailed notes

## Background This video was published on YouTube by CNBC International Live on July 11, 2018. According to the page description, the clip covers President Donald Trump's sharp criticism of Germany for paying billions of dollars to Russia.

## TL;DR During a bilateral breakfast at the Brussels NATO summit, U.S. President Donald Trump confronts NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg over Germany's energy reliance on Russia, asserting that Berlin is 'totally controlled' by Moscow due to multi-billion-dollar pipeline agreements. Trump criticizes the disparity between Germany's low defense spending and the heavy security burden carried by American taxpayers, insisting Berlin could immediately increase its contributions. Stoltenberg responds by defending NATO's historical unity and sovereign diversity, pointing out that allies maintained trade even during the Cold War. Trump rejects the analogy, arguing that strategic energy dependency uniquely compromises alliance security, before the broadcast concludes with a brief CNBC Middle East outro.

## Atmosphere & style The exchange carries a tense, confrontational, and unvarnished diplomatic tone, playing out in real time over what was ostensibly a routine working breakfast. Trump dominates the conversation with an aggressive, blunt, and unrelenting delivery, visibly brushing past diplomatic decorum to vent long-standing grievances. In contrast, Stoltenberg maintains a composed, patient, and measured defense of multilateralism, creating a gripping, high-stakes dynamic where standard diplomatic pleasantries are stripped away.

## Bulletin - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=0s) President Donald Trump accused Germany of being 'totally controlled by Russia' due to its reliance on Russian energy imports and support for new pipeline projects. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=0s) Trump highlighted a stark defense burden-sharing imbalance, contrasting the U.S. defense expenditure of 4.2% of GDP against Germany's commitment of just over 1%. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=0s) Trump rejected Germany's extended timeline to implement minor defense spending increases by 2030, urging the wealthy nation to increase military funding immediately. - [03:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=201s) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg defended alliance cohesion, asserting that 29 sovereign nations can hold differing views on energy while remaining stronger together.

## Key takeaways - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=0s) Trump confronted NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels over European energy reliance on Moscow. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=0s) Trump criticized the U.S. footing the bill to protect European allies who simultaneously funnel billions of dollars into Russian energy coffers. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=0s) Trump singled out former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's leadership role in Russian pipeline ventures. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=0s) Trump asserted that receiving 60% to 70% of its energy from Russia makes Germany captive to Moscow's leverage. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=0s) A significant spending gap was underscored between the U.S. allocating 4.2% of GDP to defense versus Germany's contribution of roughly 1%. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=0s) Trump blamed past U.S. administrations for decades of inaction regarding European defense spending obligations. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=0s) Trump dismissed Germany's planned defense increases stretching out to 2030, insisting immediate increases are financially feasible. - [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=0s) The domestic phase-out of nuclear and coal energy in Germany was identified as a primary driver of its reliance on Russian gas and oil. - [03:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=201s) Stoltenberg argued that NATO has historically managed internal policy divisions across its 29 member states while preserving collective security. - [03:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=201s) Stoltenberg noted that Western allies traded with the Soviet Union during the Cold War without compromising the alliance. - [03:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=201s) Trump rejected equating general trade with energy dependencies, arguing that energy control delivers direct political leverage. - [03:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=201s) Poland was praised by Trump for actively refusing Russian natural gas imports to safeguard its national sovereignty.

## Detailed walkthrough ### [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=0s) Trump Confronts Stoltenberg over Nord Stream and German Reliance on Russia

During a bilateral breakfast at the NATO summit in Brussels, U.S. President Donald Trump launches into an impassioned critique of Germany’s energy policy in front of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. Trump expresses sharp frustration that while the United States spends massive sums defending European nations such as Germany and France from potential Russian aggression, those same nations turn around and strike multi-billion-dollar energy deals that fill Moscow’s coffers. Pointing directly to the controversial pipeline project and former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's leadership role in it, Trump asserts that Berlin is compromising its security and independence. Trump bluntly frames the dynamic: “But, Germany is totally controlled by Russia because they will getting from 60 to 70% of their energy from Russia at a new pipeline.”

```mermaid flowchart TD accTitle: Trump's Critique of German Energy and NATO Defense accDescr: Diagram illustrating the flow of funds and defense dynamics between the US, Germany, NATO, and Russia.

subgraph Defense ["Security Burden"] US["United States (4.2% GDP)"] -->|"Defends against threat"| NATO["NATO Allies (incl. Germany & France)"] end

subgraph Energy ["Energy Dependency"] GER["Germany (~1% GDP to Defense)"] -->|"Billions of dollars"| RUS["Russia (Pipeline Deals)"] RUS -->|"Supplies 60%–70% of energy"| GER end ```

Trump pivots to the issue of burden sharing, highlighting that Germany contributes only slightly above 1 percent of its GDP to defense, whereas the United States contributes 4.2 percent of an exponentially larger economy. He claims that while previous U.S. presidents recognized the issue for decades, they chose inaction because they either failed to understand the situation or simply avoided conflict. Trump emphasizes that American taxpayers can no longer tolerate this imbalance, rejecting extended ten-year timelines and Germany’s plan to implement small defense spending increases by 2030, insisting that as a wealthy country, Germany could easily raise its defense spending immediately.

- Trump highlights that Germany is phasing out domestic coal and nuclear power plants, directly accelerating its dependence on Russian oil and natural gas imports. - Trump asserts that the German pipeline arrangements should never have been approved and insists they represent a direct security threat to the NATO alliance.

[03:21](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=201s) Stoltenberg Defends NATO Unity Amid Heated Trade and Energy Clashes

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg pushes back gently against Trump’s characterization, arguing that NATO is an alliance of 29 sovereign nations where internal differences and policy debates are inevitable. He acknowledges that the pipeline from Russia to Germany is a point of contention among members, but maintains that the core historical purpose of the alliance transcends these disagreements. In defense of the multilateral partnership, Stoltenberg points to historical precedent: “I think that two world wars and the Cold War taught us that uh are stronger together than apart.”

Trump refuses to concede the point, immediately cutting in to ask how allies can stand together when one member is reliant for its very survival on the adversary the coalition is meant to counter. When Stoltenberg reminds him that NATO allies maintained trade ties with the Soviet Union even throughout the Cold War, Trump rejects the comparison outright. Trump differentiates routine commerce from strategic commodities, arguing that energy dependency creates total political leverage. He points to nations like Poland that actively refuse Russian gas to avoid being held captive, reiterating that Germany has subordinated its independence by tying its energy grid directly to Moscow.

[04:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=290s) CNBC Middle East Bureau Outro

Following the exchange, CNBC anchor Hadley Gamble delivers the network's closing outro, broadcasting from the newly opened CNBC Middle East Bureau in Abu Dhabi. She thanks viewers for watching and directs them to subscribe to the channel or explore related video coverage appearing on screen.

## Notable quotes > [00:00](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0&t=0s) Germany is totally controlled by Russia because they will getting from 60 to 70% of their energy from Russia at a new pipeline. — Donald Trump

## Mentioned Donald Trump, Jens Stoltenberg, Gerhard Schröder, Hadley Gamble, NATO, CNBC, CNBC Middle East Bureau, Germany, United States, Russia, France, Poland, Soviet Union, Nord Stream, Brussels, Abu Dhabi

## Video description President Donald Trump criticized Germany for paying "billions of dollars" to Russia.

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[Source](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu57D9YcIk0)

中文简报

特朗普在北约峰会上就对俄天然气依赖抨击德国特朗普声称德国通过天然气管道向莫斯科输送资金，不仅损害了自身独立性与北约安全，还让美国纳税人承担欧洲防务费用。在布鲁塞尔北约峰会的双边早餐会上，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普就德国在能源上依赖俄罗斯一事质问北约秘书长延斯·斯托尔滕贝格，坚称由于数十亿美元的管道协议，柏林已“完全受俄罗斯控制”。特朗普批评德国偏低的防务支出与美国纳税人承担的沉重安全负担之间存在差距，坚持认为柏林可以立即增加出资。斯托尔滕贝格回应时捍卫了北约历史上的团结与主权多样性，指出盟国即使在冷战期间也保持着贸易往来。特朗普驳斥了这种类比，认为战略能源依赖从根本上削弱了联盟安全，随后播报以CNBC中东频道的简短片尾结束。唐纳德·特朗普总统指责德国因依赖俄罗斯能源进口及支持新管道项目而“完全受俄罗斯控制”。 (0:00) 特朗普强调了防务分担上的明显不平衡，将美国占GDP 4.2%的防务支出与德国仅略高于1%的出资比例进行了对比。 (0:00) 特朗普拒绝了德国到2030年才落实小幅防务支出增长的漫长方案，敦促这个富裕国家立即增加军事资金。 (0:00) 北约秘书长延斯·斯托尔滕贝格捍卫了联盟的凝聚力，坚称29个主权国家可以在能源问题上持有不同看法，同时依然紧密团结、更加强大。 (3:21)

Reading summary

During a bilateral breakfast at the NATO summit in Brussels, U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that Germany is "totally controlled by Russia" because of major energy pipeline agreements, arguing that American taxpayers should not subsidize the defense of a wealthy ally that enriches Moscow. Russian Energy Dependency and Nord Stream (0:00) Trump sharply criticized Germany's energy agreements with Moscow, pointing directly to controversial pipeline projects and the leadership role of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder. Trump claimed that Germany was poised to obtain 60 to 70 percent of its energy from Russia via a new pipeline, arguing that Berlin's domestic phaseout of coal and nuclear power plants actively accelerated this vulnerability. Contending that energy reliance creates direct political leverage, Trump contrasted Germany's policies with countries such as Poland, which actively refuse Russian gas imports to preserve their independence. Transatlantic Imbalances in Defense Burden-Sharing (0:00) Trump tied Germany's energy posture to the broader issue of defense burden-sharing within NATO. He highlighted that while the United States spends 4.2 percent of its significantly larger GDP on defense, Germany contributes only slightly above 1 percent. Rejecting Germany's plans for incremental increases by 2030, Trump argued that previous U.S. presidents had avoided confronting this disparity and maintained that Germany possesses the financial means to raise defense expenditures immediately rather than over extended ten-year timelines. NATO Unity Versus Strategic Trade Vulnerabilities (3:21) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg defended the resilience of the multilateral partnership, noting that NATO comprises 29 sovereign nations where internal debates are inevitable. Referencing the lessons of two world wars and the Cold War, Stoltenberg emphasized that the allies are stronger together and noted that member states had maintained trade relations with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Trump rejected the historical analogy, arguing that strategic dependency on an adversary's energy grid fundamentally undermines collective security and differs from routine commerce. The exchange highlighted an unresolved strategic clash within NATO over whether commercial energy dependencies undermine the security commitments of allied nations or whether the alliance's multilateral consensus can withstand profound policy differences among its members.

精炼阅读摘要

在布鲁塞尔北约峰会期间，美国总统特朗普公开指责德国因推进俄德管道项目并高度依赖俄罗斯能源而“完全受俄罗斯控制”，同时批评德国等欧洲盟国在享受美国昂贵防务保护的同时未承担合理的军费支出。俄德能源管道项目与地缘政治依赖争议 (0:00) 在与北约秘书长斯托尔滕贝格的双边早餐会上，特朗普对德国的能源政策发起激烈批评。特朗普认为，美国花费巨资保卫德国、法国等欧洲盟友免受潜在的俄罗斯侵略，但这些国家却反向与莫斯科达成数十亿美元的能源交易。他直接点名备受争议的管道项目以及德国前总理施罗德在其中担任的领导职务，声称德国未来将有60%至70%的能源来自俄罗斯的新管道，从而使柏林在安全与独立性上受到完全牵制。特朗普进一步指出，德国逐步淘汰国内煤炭和核电站的做法，直接加剧了其对俄罗斯石油和天然气进口的依赖。他坚称此类管道安排本不应获得批准，并构成了对北约联盟的直接安全威胁。特朗普还以波兰拒绝采购俄罗斯天然气为例，指责德国将其能源网络直接与莫斯科捆绑，实质上向战略对手让渡了政治筹码。北约防务支出失衡与分摊时间表矛盾 (0:00) 在军费负担分摊方面，特朗普强调美德两国存在严重失衡。他指出，美国作为规模大得多的经济体，将其国内生产总值（GDP）的4.2%投入防务，而德国的防务支出仅略高于其GDP的1%。特朗普指责历任美国总统数十年间因缺乏理解或回避冲突而选择不作为，并表示美国纳税人已无法继续容忍这一不公现象。针对德国提出的防务开支计划，特朗普明确拒绝了拖延至2030年才实现微幅增长的十年期规划。他坚持认为，德国作为富裕国家，完全有能力且应当立即提高防务预算，而非继续推迟履行北约成员国的防务承诺。多边联盟凝聚力与历史先例的现场交锋 (3:21) 针对特朗普的指责，北约秘书长斯托尔滕贝格为其多边框架展开辩护，表示北约由29个主权国家组成，内部出现政策分歧属于正常现象。斯托尔滕贝格承认俄德管道项目在成员国之间存在争议，但主张联盟的核心历史宗旨超越这些分歧，并援引历史称两次世界大战与冷战的经验表明，盟国团结合作远比分裂更有力量。他还提及，北约盟友在冷战期间也曾与苏联保持贸易往来。特朗普随即打断并驳斥了斯托尔滕贝格的历史类比，反问如果一个成员国在生存层面上依赖其防务所针对的对手，联盟如何能够维持团结。特朗普强调，常规商业往来与战略能源商品存在本质区别，能源依赖会产生绝对的政治杠杆，因此冷战时期的贸易先例无法合理化当前德国对俄罗斯的深层能源捆绑。该交锋展现了美国政府与北约传统多边机制之间的根本分歧：一方要求盟国立即消除经贸依赖并迅速提高军费，另一方则试图在承认成员国内部主权差异的前提下维持历史性集体安全同盟，双方在战略自主与联盟义务上的矛盾仍未得到解决。

Source quotes

[0:00] Donald Trump: Germany is totally controlled by Russia because they will getting from 60 to 70% of their energy from Russia at a new pipeline.

Original transcript

[0:00] Well, I have to say I think it's very [0:03] sad when Germany makes a massive oil and [0:06] gas deal with Russia where you're [0:09] supposed to be guarding against Russia [0:11] and Germany goes out and pays billions [0:13] and billions of dollars a year to [0:15] Russia. So, we're protecting Germany, [0:17] we're protecting France, we're [0:19] protecting all of these countries [0:21] and then numerous of the countries go [0:23] out and make a pipeline deal with Russia [0:26] where they're paying billions of dollars [0:28] into the coffers of Russia. [0:30] So, we're supposed to protect you [0:32] against Russia, but they're paying [0:34] billions of dollars to Russia, and I [0:36] think that's very inappropriate. And the [0:37] former Chancellor of Germany is the head [0:40] of the pipeline company that's supplying [0:42] the gas. Uh is ultimately Germany will [0:45] have almost 70% [0:47] of their country [0:49] controlled by Russia with natural gas. [0:52] So, you tell me, is that appropriate? I [0:54] mean, we've I've been complaining about [0:56] this from the time I got in. It should [0:58] have never been allowed to have [0:59] happened. But, Germany is totally [1:02] controlled by Russia because they will [1:04] getting from 60 to 70% of their energy [1:07] from Russia at a new pipeline. And you [1:10] tell me if that's appropriate because I [1:12] think it's not. And I think it's a very [1:13] bad thing for NATO, and I don't think it [1:15] should have happened. And I think we [1:17] have to talk to Germany about it. On top [1:19] of that, Germany is just paying a little [1:21] bit over 1% whereas the United States in [1:24] actual numbers is paying 4.2% [1:27] of a much larger GDP. [1:30] So, I think that's inappropriate also. [1:32] You know, we're protecting Germany, [1:33] we're protecting France, we're [1:35] protecting everybody. [1:36] And yet we're paying a lot of money to [1:38] protect. Now, this has been going on for [1:40] decades. This has been brought up by [1:43] other presidents, but other presidents [1:44] never did anything about it because I [1:46] don't think they understood it or they [1:48] just didn't want to get involved. But, I [1:50] have to bring it up because I think it's [1:52] very unfair to our country. It's very [1:53] unfair to our taxpayer. [1:55] And I think that these countries have to [1:57] step it up, not over a 10-year period. [1:59] They have to step it up immediately. [2:01] Germany is a rich country. They talk [2:03] about they're going to increase it a [2:04] tiny bit [2:06] by 2030. [2:08] Well, they could increase it immediately [2:10] tomorrow [2:11] and have no problem. I don't think it's [2:13] fair to the United States. So, [2:15] we're going to have to do something [2:16] because we're not going to put up with [2:18] it. We can't put up with it, and it's [2:20] inappropriate. So, we have to talk about [2:23] the billions and billions of dollars [2:26] that's being paid to the country that [2:28] we're supposed to be protecting you [2:30] against. [2:31] You know, everybody's everybody's [2:32] talking about it all over the world. [2:34] They'll say, "Well, wait a minute. We're [2:35] supposed to be protecting you from [2:36] Russia, [2:38] but why are you paying billions of [2:39] dollars [2:40] to Russia for energy? Why are countries [2:43] in NATO, namely Germany, having a large [2:46] percentage of their energy needs paid, [2:50] you know, to Russia and and taken care [2:52] of by Russia? Now, if you look at it, [2:55] Germany is a captive of Russia because [2:57] they supply They get rid of their coal [2:58] plants. They get rid of their nuclear. [3:01] They're getting so much of the oil and [3:03] gas from Russia. I think it's something [3:06] that NATO has to look at. I think it's [3:07] very inappropriate. You and I agreed [3:09] that it's inappropriate. I don't know [3:11] what you can do about it now, but it [3:13] certainly doesn't seem to make sense [3:14] that [3:15] they pay billions of dollars to Russia, [3:17] and now we have to defend them against [3:19] Russia. [3:21] You know, [3:22] NATO is the alliance of 29 nations, and [3:25] there are sometimes differences and [3:27] different views and also some [3:28] disagreements. And gas [3:31] uh pipeline from Russia to Germany is [3:33] one issue where allies disagree. But, [3:36] the strength of NATO is that despite [3:38] these differences, we have always been [3:39] able to [3:41] unite around our core task to protect [3:43] and defend each other because we [3:45] understand that we are stronger together [3:46] than apart. [3:48] I think that two world wars and the Cold [3:50] War taught us that uh are stronger [3:52] together than apart. [3:53] Um [3:54] But how can you be together when a [3:56] country is getting its energy from the [3:59] person you want protection against or [4:01] from the group that you want protection? [4:02] Because we understand that when we stand [4:04] together, also when dealing with Russia, [4:07] we are stronger. I think what we have [4:09] seen is that [4:10] No, you're just making Russia richer. [4:12] Well, dealing with Russia making Russia [4:14] richer. Also, I think that even during [4:16] the Cold War, NATO allies were trading [4:19] with Russia. There are a lot of been [4:21] disagreements about what kind of trade [4:24] arrangements we should we should go [4:25] into. [4:25] trade is wonderful. I think energy is a [4:28] whole different story. [4:29] I think energy is a much different story [4:31] than normal trade. [4:33] And you have a country like Poland that [4:35] won't accept the gas. You take a look at [4:37] some of the countries, they won't accept [4:39] it because they don't want to be captive [4:40] to Russia. [4:42] But Germany, as far as I'm concerned, is [4:43] captive to Russia because it's getting [4:45] so much of its energy from Russia. [4:50] Hey everybody, it's Hadley Gamble from [4:51] our new CNBC Middle East Bureau in Abu [4:53] Dhabi. Thanks for stopping by. Now, to [4:55] watch more, you can try one of the [4:56] videos that just popped up in your [4:58] screen. And don't forget to subscribe.