Michael McFaul, the former U. S. ambassador to Russia, on Wednesday slammed President Trump for his comments hammering NATO allies and their contributions at the group’s…
Michael McFaul, the former U. S. ambassador to Russia, on Wednesday slammed President Trump for his comments hammering NATO allies and their contributions at the group’s annual summit.
“Trump has done more damage to NATO in 18 months than Soviet & Russian leaders achieved in 7 decades,” McFaul said on Twitter. “Why?”
McFaul’s remarks came not long after the president took aim at Germany shortly after his arrival at the NATO summit over a pipeline deal with Russia. Trump claimed the agreement made Berlin «captive to Russia» and urged NATO to assess the situation.
«I have to say, I think it’s very sad when Germany makes a massive oil and gas deal with Russia, where you’re supposed to be guarding against Russia, and Germany goes out and pays billions and billions of dollars a year to Russia,» the president said during a meeting with the NATO secretary-general, slamming one of America’s closest allies.
“If you look at it, Germany is a captive of Russia because they supply,» he continued. «They got rid of their coal plants. They got rid of their nuclear. They’re getting so much of the oil and gas from Russia. I think it’s something that NATO has to look at. I think it’s very inappropriate.»
The president is facing backlash for his repeated criticism of alliance members in contrast to his apparently friendly rhetoric toward Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin.
McFaul, who served as ambassador under the Obama administration from 2012 to 2014, has previously spoken out against Trump, saying earlier this year that he thinks «Russians are laughing» at the U. S.
“I think the Russians are laughing,” he said in an interview with MSNBC. “I think that’s right, but they’re laughing at how easy it is. And how our president, unfortunately, is helping with their agenda.”
