Trump: Germany captive of Russia
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed a pipeline project has made Germany "totally controlled" by and "captive to Russia" because of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project.
Trump said it during a breakfast with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, complaining that the US protected Germany while it made deals on buying energy with Russia.
Trump said it was "very inappropriate" for the US to be paying for European defense from Russia while Germany is supporting gas deals with Moscow.
"They pay billions of dollars to Russia and we have to defend them against Russia," Trump told Stoltenberg.
"Germany as far as I'm concerned is captive to Russia because it's getting so much of its energy from Russia," he said.
Stoltenberg stressed that NATO members have been able to work together despite their differences.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel defended her country's contribution to the alliance.
"Germany does a lot for NATO," she said.
Merkel also denied Germany was under Russian control, saying Germany makes independent policies and decisions.