Trump: US spending on NATO ‘not fair’

President Trump on Monday called upon North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members to increase their contributions to the alliance, reiterating past criticism ahead of his trip to a NATO summit this week.

“The United States is spending far more on NATO than any other Country. This is not fair, nor is it acceptable. While these countries have been increasing their contributions since I took office, they must do much more. Germany is at 1%, the U.S. is at 4%, and NATO benefits Europe far more than it does the U.S,” the president wrote on Twitter.

The United States is spending far more on NATO than any other Country. This is not fair, nor is it acceptable. While these countries have been increasing their contributions since I took office, they must do much more. Germany is at 1%, the U.S. is at 4%, and NATO benefits…….

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2018

Trump’s tweets come before the NATO summit in Brussels and a meeting next week with Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

{mosads}The president in the Monday tweets also criticized European nations over trade.

“By some accounts, the U.S. is paying for 90% of NATO, with many countries nowhere close to their 2% commitment,” Trump said. “On top of this the European Union has a Trade Surplus of $151 Million with the U.S., with big Trade Barriers on U.S. goods. NO!”

…Europe far more than it does the U.S. By some accounts, the U.S. is paying for 90% of NATO, with many countries nowhere close to their 2% commitment. On top of this the European Union has a Trade Surplus of $151 Million with the U.S., with big Trade Barriers on U.S. goods. NO!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 9, 2018

The president frequently references a $151 billion trade deficit with the EU. A recent fact-check in The New York Times estimates that the U.S. deficit with the EU is approximately $101 billion after factoring in trade in services.

Trump repeatedly criticized trade deals while he was a candidate and has maintained the attacks while in office. Earlier this month, he threatened to impose tariffs on all European cars entering the United States.

— This story was updated July 10 at 3:16 pm.