After the NATO Circus is over the CBC's propagandists keep pounding on the drums in support of Trudeau The Younger Yet Trump doesn't even notice much less care about our "Fake News" aka CNN North N'esy Pas?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-uk-visit-1.4745346

Trump brings his chaotic road show to Britain, blasts U.K. PM and London mayor

U.S. president met by both pomp and protest as U.K. visit begins

The Associated Press · Posted: Jul 13, 2018 1:24 AM ET 

 

U.S. President Donald Trump, right, stands with British Prime Minister Theresa May, left, at her country residence, Chequers, in Buckinghamshire, England on Friday. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press)

1369 Comments

David R. Amos

Methinks CBC a comment section on this topic a day late N'esy Pas?

https://twitter.com/DavidRayAmos/with_replies



David Raymond Amos‏ @DavidRayAmos

Replying to @DavidRayAmos @FloryGoncalves and 49 others

After the NATO Circus is over the CBC's propagandists keep pounding on the drums in support of Trudeau The Younger Yet Trump doesn't even notice much less care about our "Fake News" aka CNN North N'esy Pas?

 http://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2018/07/after-nato-circus-is-over-cbcs.html

#Trudeau #NATO #Trump

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-takes-questions-nato-july-1.4743477

Trudeau insists Canada spending enough on defence, as Trump declares victory at NATO

Canada's PM reacts to Trump saying he convinced NATO allies to increase contributions

CBC News · Posted: Jul 12, 2018 7:16 AM ET

3926 Comments 

Commenting is now closed for this story.

(The tally was 3969 before I refreshed the page and CBC had already deleted loads of comments so I quit and went to bed)

"POOF"
Dave MacDonald

Trudeau has 0 credibility at this point . He has gone back on his word so many times I've lost count

David R. Amos

@Dave MacDonald Methinks even CBC must think its wickedly comical how he even has Rupert Murdoch's people confused N'esy Pas?

I chuckled comparing this quote from Fox News

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-nato-1.4743670

"Woody Johnson, the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, dismissed the significance of the protests, telling Fox News that one of the reasons the two countries are so close "is because we have the freedoms that we've all fought for. And one of the freedoms we have is freedom of speech and the freedom to express your views. And I know that's valued very highly over here and people can disagree strongly and still go out to dinner." He also said meeting the Queen would be an experience Trump "will really cherish."

To quotes from a news rag owned by Murdoch after the Yankee Air Force One brought Trump and his three ring Circus over the channel for dinner with their Prime Minister.

David R. Amos 

@David R. Amos

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-uk-visit-1.4744490

Trump, who is making his first presidential visit to Britain, told the Sun newspaper he had advised May on how to conduct Brexit negotiations, "but she didn't listen to me."

"She should negotiate the best way she knows how. But it is too bad what is going on," the president said. "If they do a deal like that, we would be dealing with the European Union instead of dealing with the U.K., so it will probably kill the deal," Trump said.

He said "the deal she is striking is a much different deal than the one the people voted on." "In another blow to May, Trump said her now ex-foreign secretary "would be a great prime minister. I think he's got what it takes."

"Trump also said he doesn't feel welcome in London — and he blames that in part on the city's mayor, Sadiq Khan. Trump said that the tenor in London is part of why he's spending so little time in the city, saying, "I guess when they put out blimps to make me feel unwelcome, no reason for me to go to London."

Khan gave protesters permission to fly the 20-foot-tall balloon depicting Trump as an angry baby in a diaper.

May and Trump are scheduled to hold talks and a joint news conference on Friday.

 

"POOF" Peter While

In the Liberal fantasy world, Canada is a major player and everyone breathlessly listens to every word form Trudeau.

In reality, Canada is a minor player, and the world media is completely disinterested in Trudeau's opinion about anything.

 

David R. Amos

@Peter While I agree with your opinion of the Liberal fantasy world ,However methinks no matter the colour of the coat of the dude in the PMO the Canadian banksters and certain corporations behind the scenes pulling the strings are very powerful

 

"POOF" 
russel Teagan

Trudeau was terrified of Trump.....

Troy Mann

@russel Teagan

Canadians cheering in Trump as he attacks our economy are pathetic

Michael Murphy

@Matt Thuaii The only criticism right wingers have is baseless

socks, hair, something something Soros

Neil Turv

@Michael Murphy

Closets, Orange Juice something something Koch...

Anyone who thinks any Canadian politician is 100% evil from any major party has the same level of credibility...which is zero.

David R. Amos

@Troy Mann Methinks the bureaucrats and pensioners cheering the big bonuses for Sinclair and his crew are pretty pathetic too. However at least if Trump causes the economy to take another nosedive we won't have to top up your pension investments like we did with liberal budget in 2009 N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@Michael Murphy "The only criticism right wingers have is baseless"

Yea right I kinda sorta lean to the right and I don't talk about socks or hair but I do mention your hero Iggy and his latest boss Soros quite a bit. Methinks you talk just like a not so true dyed in the wool liberal Attorney General who just turned coat for some reason most folks will never understand If you are him you would never admit it N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos 

@Neil Turv Methinks everybody knows that after running for public office five times since 2004 I would have earned some level of credibility but it does not appear to be the case within the CBC domain. In fact I have not even been worth mentioning by CBC during five elections. Go Figure

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/fundy-royal-riding-profile-1.3274276

I would never claim they are all 100% evil but no politician of the legions I have in countered in the USA and Canada have had the sand to uphold their understanding of such words as integrity or accountability.. I would dearly have loved to meet an ethical Canadian politician or one at least blessed with some semblance of a conscience and a little common sense in the past 15 years. In 2015 I had hopes that one would have finally surface when everyone had enough of Harper and I sued the Crown. Nobody dares to deny that Trudeau the Younger was mentioned in paragraph 83 of the Statement of Claim filed long before polling day or in the time since he became Prime Minister N'esy Pas?

 

"POOF" 
kenny carter

Trump is the democratically elected leader of the USA, it appears Canadians have no respect for democracy when the results don't align with their ideological beliefs.

Adam Smith 

@kenny carter

Personally, I rarely agree with any of Trump's policies, however disagreement is no reason to ignore the fact that Trump was democratically elected.

Sure, the electoral college system may be imperfect, but it doesn't take away the fact that many millions of people do agree with Trump's policies and ideas.

If you believe in democracy, then you believe that everyone should have an equal and equally valid voice in the politics - and that includes folks that you disagree with.

I think people need to be more respectful of those who don't share their personal views. Even those people whom I disagree with, I acknowledge that they likely have legitimate reasons for their views, and should never be simply dismissed outright.

David R. Amos 

@kenny carter True but there is no democracy to respect.

Methinks the Yankees have a republic which some call a :"representative democracy" kinda similar to ours but we pretend to still have a mnarchy. However although Trudeau and Trump and all of their cohorts know what a true representative democracy is they prove they have no respect for it whatsoever when they whip their party members to vote as their leader orders them to. Basically we just elect temporary Kings and Trump and Trudeau both know it N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@Adam Smith "Sure, the electoral college system may be imperfect,"

Methinks its votes are whipped as well N'esy Pas?

 

This thread went "POOF" while I was writing a reply so I recycled it

webster sinclair

@ NATO summit, the Trudeauian fact check meter has run aground

I fear for my country.

David R. Amos

@webster sinclair Have no fear. Methinks you should relax and enjoy the circus. We survived the mandates of Trudeau the Elder. Mulroney, Chretien, Martin and Harper. We will survive Trudeau The Younger's  nonsense as well. I had respect for Joe Clark telling it like it was but his foes did not give him a chance like they did Harper with his first minority, Seems that old Joe taught us that honesty does not fly on the Hill and Harper learned that lesson well N'esy Pas?

 
"POOF" 
kenny carter

Is he on his way back to tender his resignation ?

 

Troy Mann

@Ryann everett

Like we did to Harper? He got beat so badly he quit politics all together lol

David R. Amos 

@Troy Mann Methinks you should get over Harper, relax and enjoy the circus Mr Dress Up is providing us. We survived the mandates of Trudeau the Elder. Mulroney, Chretien, Martin and Harper. We will survive your hero Trudeau The Younger's nonsense as well. I had respect for Joe Clark telling it like it was but his foes did not give him a chance like they did Harper with his first minority, Seems that old Joe taught us that honesty does not fly on the Hill or in politics for that matter and Harper learned that lesson very well N'esy Pas?

 
"POOF" 
Pat Mosiuk

Trudeau translation "Of course, Mr. Trump. We will uphold our financial obligations to NATO!" Does anyone in the world believe a word that comes out of JT's mouth?

david mccaig

@Pat Mosiuk

SIX TIME BANKRUPT lecturing NATO countries on paying their NATO bill, how ridiculous.

Steve Cowell

@david mccaig
No shame. The Trump advantage.

David R. Amos

@Steve Cowell I concur

"POOF" 
john parks

It is unfortunate for Canada that the liberal party has fully accepted dishonesty and lack of integrity from their leader

Paul Douglas

@john parks
Their sole aim was to get rid of Harper. They don’t care that their leader is even worse. Partisan politics.

David R. Amos

@Paul Douglas Methinks that is the nature of the wicked game played by all organized political parties N'esy Pas?

 
Dwight Williams

Geez Trump can't open his mouth without embellishing.

You can't believe anything he says.

David R. Amos

@Dwight Williams "You can't believe anything he says"

Methinks the is no need to believe anything any of them say Just enjoy the Circus for what it is. After it is the "Greatest Show On Earth" and Trump did claim he would make America Great again. He just lied about how N'esy Pas?

mo bennett

@David R. Amos it's actually more like a trip to the porcelain bus, messy paws?

 

Andrew Hebda (NS)

Looks like the usual "trash" the PM brigade are quick off the mark..

The take home from the Press conference is that Canada is committed to NATO and will support it in a number of ways ... That has been the Canadian approach since NATO was created...

David R. Amos

@Andrew Hebda (NS) Methinks not all Canadians agree with you 30 years or so after the Cold War has been a matter of history N'esy Pas?

Steve Timmins

Hard to deny that the States are footing most of the bill.

Jacob Hobart

@Steve Timmins Starting most of the conflicts too...

David R. Amos

@Jacob Hobart "Starting most of the conflicts too..."

YUP

Danny Tanker

Give 'em Hell Trudeau, you are chip off the 'ol block and won't take Trump's nonsense, he will be gone long before you will be.

ABC 2019

Peter Boone

@Danny Tanker - Mr. Grabby only has one more year left.

David R. Amos

@Danny Tanker Methinks the Fat Lady is far from ready to sing about 2019. Trust that Trudeau the Younger and his minions in the RCMP know my application to the Supreme Court is almost set to go now that the former Chief Justice has made her last judgement about law societies of all things and is off to Hong Kong while I prepare to file three more lawsuits and run for public office for the last time N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@Peter Boone "Mr. Grabby only has one more year left."

Methinks everybody in the know knows why I enjoy that fact N'esy Pas?

If you don't just Google David Amos Federal Court then scroll down to statement number 83.

 

Jan Lenova

Only Conservative carpetbagger's cheer for Trump.

Jacob Hobart

@Jan Lenova ...and only bigots make generalizations.

David R. Amos

@Jacob Hobart True

 
Bernie Hunter

Canada needs water bombers to fight forest fires not military jets. NO more to defense, let Trump fix the battles US created themselves. Stay out, Canada!

Jacob Hobart

@Bernie Hunter Well said! We have our priorities in bad shape...

Serge Vivier

@Bernie Hunter
In my opinion, you are100% correct

David R. Amos

@Bernie Hunter I wholeheartedly agree Sir

 
Keith Newcastle

If Justin knew/cared anything about defense he would have appointed Andrew Leslie, a retired LGEN with years of experience with the DND and CF systems, as minister. Instead he appointed Sajan, former CO of a small reserve regiment. We all know why.

Turner Jones

@Keith Newcastle He won the ar all by himself....just ask him.

Peter Hill

@Keith Newcastle
You mean make someone not elected a Cabinet Minister? Why?

Norman Shankland

@Keith Newcastle
There is no doubt Lt-Gen Leslie views on defence are taken into account.
Nothing wrong with Sajjan unless you do not like Sikhs.

Keith Newcastle

@Peter Hill : Keep up. He is the serving MP for Orleans:

https://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members/Andrew-Leslie(88894)

Phillip Potter

@Norman Shankland And his taking credit for something he didn't do.

Alex Norris

@Peter Hill

Cause they are QUALIFIED for the job. And not just a suitable visible minority so you look good to your base.

Keith Newcastle

@Peter Hill : Keep up. He is the serving MP for Orléans. Did you miss the election results?

Keith Newcastle

@Norman Shankland : "Nothing wrong with Sajjan unless you do not like Sikhs." Plenty wrong with choosing Sajan over Leslie regardless of whom you like.

David R. Amos

@Keith Newcastle YUP

 
Sally Grayson

Americans wish they had Trudeau for their leader.

David R. Amos

@Sally Grayson Methinks you should read the news and check the polls south of the medicine line N'esy Pas?

 

Linda Taylor

it's this govt that is accountable now to looking after this country. So far it's been much worse than those gov'ts before it. That needs to stop, this pm has no clue and of course says whatever and will never keep his word. The best is that come 2019 he will be gone. He needs to stay home and look after his country and it's people first, instead of no borders and having taxpayers support trumps illegals.

Gord Gray

@Linda Taylor
Yes, the current government is accountable, unlike the previous one. From every objective measure I can find, the Liberals are far outperforming the previous conservative government. They are finally looking after people first, instead of just the wealthy ones. They are using evidence based policy instead of ideologically based decisions. They are upholding the laws of the land.

David R. Amos

@Gord Gray Dream on

 
Frank Iker

Who is threatening us that we need to do more spending on NATO? We help when called upon. Are we supposed to build an aircraft carrier just to meet Trumps demands? Stay the course JT.

Sally Grayson

@Sully Grayson

nice name!

Glenn Coco

@Sally Grayson nice photo!

Content disabled.
David R. Amos

@Sally Grayson LOL

David R. Amos

@Sally Grayson You would not believe what was just blocked

David R. Amos

@Glenn Coco Methinks liberals like my dog in my photo more than they like me. They say he reminds them of their leader. I should feel insulted on behalf of my dog but they are correct. Anyway he does not care as he checks out the poodle next door and tries not to recall younger days. He does keep a good look out for ugly old Yankees with orange hair that he is supposed to bark at and warn me about but all the children and ladies can pass him by with nary a woof. from him. Just like his puppet masters I often say "Good Boy and take him on a trip now and then just like the liberals do N'esy Pas?

 
Harold Cooper
The CBC's propagandists have been pushing this notion for a couple of months now that the EU and Canada should just sever all ties with the US. Why hasn't it happened? Because it's exactly like Trump says it is. NATO and the UN is only in existence because the US has been picking up a large majority of the tab.

Look at the numbers lol. NATO needs the US more than the US needs NATO.

So regardless of what this media or any Clinton-biased media claims, the cheapskates who are more interested in welcoming the third world into their countries (The ones who are coincidentally only paying half of the GDP) so they can keep that Marxist dream alive, will be met with a lot of hostility from neighboring countries if the US walks with their funding.

Can it be done? Why not? The last time I checked, China, who is swimming in cash isn't part of any Joint-Military Union.

David R. Amos

@Harold Cooper Methinks I read different stuff in CBC about Trump Canada and the UN N'esy Pas?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-jerusalem-un-1.4460257

 

Harold Cooper

@richard bishop Russia is leading the charge on that one while China plays Russia into doing all the heavy lifting.

Believe me, you'll never see Chinese boots land in the Middle East.

richard bishop

@Harold Cooper
Some say they are already there, although CBC, doesn't allow links to sites that may confirm it.

Content disabled.

David R. Amos

@richard bishop Methinks CBC blocks way too many comments that offer links to their own articles N'esy Pas?

Content disabled.

David R. Amos

@David R. Amos I know I am talking to myself but methinks its a waste of precious time waiting for moderators to allow my comment or not then looking for a response than never comes before the thread is buried by newer comments. Its best to quit the tread and go to supper so that these dudes can argue among themselves without having to ignore me anymore N'esy Pas?

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-nato-1.4743670 

Trump's claim that NATO will boost defence spending disputed

French president says allies confirmed intention to meet 2% goal by 2024 and no more

The Associated Press · Posted: Jul 12, 2018 3:44 AM ET


 1986 Comments
Commenting is now closed for this story.




 
David R. Amos
Hopefully sooner or later somebody ethical within NATO will read this N'esy Pas?

Statement of Claim Federal Court of Canada File # T-1557-15

A portion of Statement # 83

83. The Plaintiff states that now that Canada is involved in more war in Iraq again it did not serve Canadian interests and reputation to allow Barry Winters to publish the following words three times over five years after he began his bragging:

Friday, October 3, 2014

Little David Amos’ “True History Of War” Canadian Airstrikes And

Stupid Justin Trudeau

Canada’s and Canadians free ride is over. Canada can no longer hide

behind Amerka’s and NATO’s skirts.

When I was still in Canadian Forces then Prime Minister Jean Chretien actually committed the Canadian Army to deploy in the second campaign in Iraq, the Coalition of the Willing. This was against or contrary to the wisdom or advice of those of us Canadian officers that were involved in the initial planning phases of that operation. There were significant concern in our planning cell, and NDHQ about of the dearth of concern for operational guidance, direction, and forces for operations after the initial occupation of Iraq. At the “last minute” Prime Minister Chretien and the Liberal government changed its mind. The Canadian government told our amerkan cousins that we would not deploy combat troops for the Iraq campaign, but would deploy a Canadian Battle Group to Afghanistan, enabling our amerkan cousins to redeploy troops from there to Iraq. The PMO’s thinking that it was less costly to deploy Canadian Forces to Afghanistan than Iraq. But alas no one seems to remind the Liberals of Prime Minister Chretien’s then grossly incorrect assumption.

Content disabled.
David R. Amos

Sooner or later somebody in NATO will read this N'esy Pas?

Statement of Claim Federal Court of Canada File # T-1557-15

A portion of Statement # 83

83. The Plaintiff states that now that Canada is involved in more war in Iraq again it did not serve Canadian interests and reputation to allow Barry Winters to publish the following words three times over five years after he began his bragging:

Friday, October 3, 2014

Little David Amos’ “True History Of War” Canadian Airstrikes And

Stupid Justin Trudeau

Canada’s and Canadians free ride is over. Canada can no longer hide

behind Amerka’s and NATO’s skirts.

When I was still in Canadian Forces then Prime Minister Jean Chretien actually committed the Canadian Army to deploy in the second campaign in Iraq, the Coalition of the Willing. This was against or contrary to the wisdom or advice of those of us Canadian officers that were involved in the initial planning phases of that operation. There were significant concern in our planning cell, and NDHQ about of the dearth of concern for operational guidance, direction, and forces for operations after the initial occupation of Iraq. At the “last minute” Prime Minister Chretien and the Liberal government changed its mind. The Canadian government told our amerkan cousins that we would not deploy combat troops for the Iraq campaign, but would deploy a Canadian Battle Group to Afghanistan, enabling our amerkan cousins to redeploy troops from there to Iraq. The PMO’s thinking that it was less costly to deploy Canadian Forces to Afghanistan than Iraq. But alas no one seems to remind the Liberals of Prime Minister Chretien’s then grossly incorrect assumption.






Nigel Marshall

The question has to be asked: do Trump's comments about a soft Brexit and Boris Johnson's qualifications as a Prime Minister qualify as Russian interference in British elections?

David R. Amos

@Nigel Marshall Methinks Mr Mueller and his fellow lawyer buddies such as Little Jimmy Comey, Loretta Lynch, Lisa Page, the Clintons and Prez Obama would like to think so N'esy Pas?

David James

Ah, yes. The great London "anti-Trump" protest. One would hope grown adults would have had more pressing issues to deal with rather than bang on pots and dancing around an inflated Trump doll.

David R. Amos

@David James Methinks you ran off and hid under a rock in the other comment section However my replies are still there in the most liked comment section No sense in my being redundant N'esy Pas?

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trump-nato-allies-delinquent-military-spending-1.4742588

David James

President Trump is 100% correct in his latest assertion. Canadians tend to exist within their Utopia without fully understanding their obligation to NATO. Quite simply folks, Canada has a duty to pay her fair share of military spending. Either this or remove ourselves from the NATO alliance for good. Period!

David R. Amos

@David James President Trump is 100% correct in his latest assertion.

Oh My My don't you sound just like an old foe of mine? Methinks I could not count the number of folks commenting within the the CBC domain that disagree with you. Perhaps you should read all my comments in the the "Most Liked" thread above before you attempt to argue me N'esy Pas?

David James

@David R. Amos

Odd. I did indeed check your history and I didn't see too many "likes" accrued there either. N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@David James Methinks I should feel honoured that you don't like me however you won't dare to argue me will ya N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos

@David James Methinks you already know my Father was a Mason as were many sons of the Keith Clan. However what you may not know is that a good friend of mine was a 32nd Degree Mason. i know both ghosts would affirm that the Chief of the Amos Clan does not follow anyone's orders and maintains his oath to his Clan "Veritas Vincit"so to speak N'esy Pas?

David R. Amos 

@David James "I served in Canada's military, have you?"

Ya like military history EH? Well I never served but I was accepted to St Jean in 1970 without having to finish my finals in High School but opted not to go because they would not allow me to learn to fly jets at the same time because they were trimming down the armed forces and cutting corners under the Liberals remember?

My Father definitely served the British Crown as did legions of my relatives going way back through time and not all survived. my Father's plane went down in WW II. He was the soul survivor out 9 men in that crash. He was too pigheaded to die hence I would not be typing this right now. He did name me after his friend David Hornell (look him up sometime) who was killed on my Mother's birthday in 1944 two weeks after her favourite brother Raymond was killed in Normandy. I was given his name as well Need I say I have felt honoured to be named after such men my whole life?. You should be so lucky N'esy Pas?

BTW my 32nd Degree Yankee buddy flew a B29 over Tokyo. He did some impressive flying getting his shot up bomber and the survivors of his crew back to the base on Tenian while being wounded as well. i bet you are wondering who he was. Well a clue for you would be he had two very famous forefathers. One of them my forefather Daniel Keith fought against hundreds of years ago. Check History.

Trudeau insists Canada spending enough on defence, as Trump declares victory at NATO

Canada's PM reacts to Trump saying he convinced NATO allies to increase contributions

CBC News · Posted: Jul 12, 2018 7:16 AM ET

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a news conference Thursday that Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to work toward contributing two per cent of its GDP to military spending and reverse any cuts. His comments came at the end of a two-day NATO summit in Brussels, where U.S. President Donald Trump instead said that he convinced the military alliance to dramatically hike spending. (Olivier Matthys/Associated Press)


Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada hasn't committed to spending new money on defence, despite U.S. President Donald Trump's comments that he convinced NATO allies to dramatically hike spending.

Instead, Trudeau said at the wrap of the summit in Brussels that Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to work toward contributing two per cent of its gross domestic product to military spending — the military alliance's benchmark —and reverse any cuts.

Trudeau said Canada has been "taking the right approach" on defence spending, pointing to the Liberals' plans to increase the defence budget by 70 per cent over the next decade to $32.7 billion.
"The president has been consistent that he wants to see people spending more on defence in their countries and we are very pleased we are doing that," Trudeau told reporters.

"We'll always step up, with cash yes but also with commitments and capacity. That's what NATO is looking for."

Trudeau sidesteps NATO spending questions by media

 Numbers not in line with U.S. president's earlier statement about an increase to 2% GDP by 2024 2:03

Trudeau went into the summit saying Canada was not prepared to double its defence budget to meet the NATO target.

New figures released by the military alliance just ahead of the summit  show Canada only hits 1.23 per cent of GDP.

Trump said Thursday he had convinced NATO allies to increase defence spending to meet the alliance's benchmark and perhaps go higher.

• Trump says NATO allies like Canada are 'delinquent' on military spending. Is he wrong?

• Trudeau and Trump talk trade on NATO sidelines

He spoke at the closing of the two-day summit, which was punctuated with insults, arguments and high drama behind closed doors.

"It all came together in the end," Trump said.

He went into the meeting questioning the value of the 70-year-old institution, but came out extolling its solidarity and the willingness of leaders to co-operate, work together and bow to his wishes.

Trump pushes for 4% benchmark 

Trump claimed he had done what other presidents had failed to do by pushing leaders to agree to higher spending.

By all indications, the morning session of NATO leaders from 29 nations was stormy.

Trump upended the meeting Wednesday by insisting all members increase their military spending this year to two per cent of their GDP — a standard established 16 years ago but rarely met by most of NATO, including Canada.

Trump upped the ante late Wednesday by saying the benchmark should actually be four per cent.
Behind closed doors, Trump apparently went further Thursday.

Trump touts successful NATO summit

 Takes credit for membership agreeing to increase defence spending by 2% of GDP 1:50

It was enough for NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to call a quick emergency session of leaders.

"The commitment was at two per cent. Ultimately that'll be going up much higher," Trump said without providing many specifics.

He said Stoltenberg will provide the figures later.

"We are doing numbers like they have never done before," Trump said.

Germany's pipeline deal questioned 

The U.S. president had tweeted Wednesday that he wondered about the value of NATO when one of its biggest members — Germany —  was involved in a major pipeline deal with Russia.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump talk on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Brussels, Belgium on July 11, 2018. (Yves Herman/Reuters)

Some U.S. commentators suggested Trump is focusing his attention on the $11-billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline deal to deflect criticism that he is too cozy with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump, however, is not alone in questioning the deal.

• Canada to command NATO training mission in Iraq

• PM says there is no plan to double defence budget

Canada and European allies are worried.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said there are significant Western sanctions against Russia for a reason.

"Canada believes in those sanctions," she said Wednesday.

"Those sanctions will and need to stay in place as long as Russia's illegal actions remain in force. When it comes to Nord Stream, Canada has significant concerns about that project."

On Wednesday, the prime minister held an "informal" chat with Trump, in what a Trudeau aide described as a positive talk focused on trade, the ongoing NAFTA renegotiations, and how the recent election of Mexico's new left-leaning populist president might impact those negotiations.

(CBC)

With files from The Canadian Press and CBC's Murray Brewster

Trump's claim that NATO will boost defence spending disputed

French president says allies confirmed intention to meet 2% goal by 2024 and no more

The Associated Press · Posted: Jul 12, 2018 3:44 AM ET 

'I believe in NATO,' U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters as two days of talks with leaders of the military alliance ended in Brussels. (Reinhard Krause/Reuters)


U.S. President Donald Trump closed out his chaotic two-day visit to NATO Thursday by declaring victory, claiming that member nations caved to his demands to significantly increase defence spending and reaffirming his commitment to the alliance.

But there were no immediate specifics on what Trump said he had achieved, and French President Emmanuel Macron quickly disputed Trump's claim that NATO allies have agreed to boost defence spending beyond two per cent of gross domestic product.

"The United States' commitment to NATO remains very strong," Trump told reporters at a surprise news conference following an emergency session of NATO members held to address his reported threats to withdraw from the alliance.

• Trump says NATO allies like Canada are 'delinquent' on military spending. Is he wrong?

• Trudeau and Trump talk trade on NATO sidelines

Trump had spent his time in Brussels berating members of the military alliance for failing to spend enough of their money on defence, accusing Europe of freeloading off the U.S. and raising doubts about whether he would come to members' defence if they were attacked.

Trump said he made his anger clear to allies on Wednesday.

Leaders from NATO member and partner states met for a two-day summit, overshadowed by strong demands by Trump for most NATO member countries to spend more on defence. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

"Yesterday I let them know that I was extremely unhappy with what was happening," Trump said, adding that, in response, European countries agreed to up their spending.

"They have substantially upped their commitment and now we're very happy and have a very, very powerful, very, very strong NATO," he said.

Trump did not specify which countries had committed to what, and it remained unclear whether any had changed their plans. He seemed to suggest a speeded-up timeline, saying nations would be "spending at a much faster clip," which if it panned out would mark a significant milestone for the alliance.

Trump touts successful NATO summit

 Takes credit for membership agreeing to increase defence spending by 2% of GDP 1:50

"Some are at two per cent, others have agreed definitely to go to two per cent, and some are going back to get the approval, and which they will get to go to two per cent," he said.

U.S. leaders for decades have pushed NATO allies to spend more on defence in an effort to more equitably share the burden in the mutual-defence organization.

NATO countries in 2014 committed to move toward spending two per cent of their gross domestic products on defence within 10 years. NATO has estimated that only 15 members, or just over half, will meet the benchmark by 2024 based on current trends.

• PM says there is no plan to double defence budget

"We committed in the declaration yesterday to the [2014] Wales agreement — and you can triple-check the wording in that — which moves us toward two per cent and mostly importantly reverses the decline in military spending that happened across NATO allies, including in Canada under the previous government," Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said at a closing news conference.

Macron, in his own news conference, seemed to reject Trump's claim that NATO powers had agreed to increases beyond previous targets. He said the allies had confirmed their intention to meet the goal of two per cent by 2024 and no more.

• Analysis
  After the G7 debacle, Trump's NATO and Putin summits are raising 'déjà vu' alarm bells

The emergency session came amid reports that Trump had threatened to leave the pact if allies didn't immediately up their spending, but officials said no explicit threat was made.

"President Trump never at any moment, either in public or in private, threatened to withdraw from NATO," Macron said.

Trump had taken an aggressive tone during the NATO summit, questioning the value of an alliance that has defined decades of American foreign policy, torching an ally and proposing a massive increase in European defence spending.

Trump keeps up pressure

Earlier Thursday, Trump called out U.S. allies on Twitter, saying, "Presidents have been trying unsuccessfully for years to get Germany and other rich NATO Nations to pay more toward their protection from Russia."

He complained the United States "pays tens of Billions of Dollars too much to subsidize Europe" and demanded that member nations meet their pledge to spend 2 percent of GDP on defence, which "must ultimately go to 4%!"

Under fire for his warm embrace of Russia's Vladimir Putin, Trump on Wednesday also turned a harsh spotlight on Germany's own ties to Russia, alleging that a natural gas pipeline venture with Moscow has left Angela Merkel's government "totally controlled" and "captive" to Russia.

• U.S. Embassy tells Americans in Britain to exercise caution during Trump visit

He continued the attack Thursday, complaining that "Germany just started paying Russia, the country they want protection from, Billions of Dollars for their Energy needs coming out of a new pipeline from Russia."

"Not acceptable!" he railed before arriving late at NATO headquarters for morning meetings with the leaders of Azerbaijan, Romania, Ukraine and Georgia.

Combative Trump accuses Germany of pandering to Russia for energy

 'Germany is a captive of Russia,' says U.S. president at start of NATO meetings 3:21

During the trip, Trump questioned the necessity of the alliance that formed a bulwark against Soviet aggression, tweeting after a day of contentious meetings: "What good is NATO if Germany is paying Russia billions of dollars for gas and energy?"

Merkel, who grew up in communist East Germany, shot back that she had "experienced myself a part of Germany controlled by the Soviet Union, and I'm very happy today that we are united in freedom as the Federal Republic of Germany and can thus say that we can determine our own policies and make our own decisions and that's very good."

• 'Trump Baby will fly!': London mayor green lights balloon ahead of U.S. president's visit

Trump tweeted that NATO countries "Must pay 2% of GDP IMMEDIATELY, not by 2025" and then rattled them further by privately suggesting member nations should spend 4 percent of their gross domestic product on defence — a bigger share than even the United States currently pays, according to NATO statistics.

Still, Trump has been more conciliatory behind the scenes, including at a leaders' dinner Wednesday.
"I have to tell you that the atmosphere last night at dinner was very open, was very constructive and it was very positive," Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, the president of Croatia, told reporters.

U.K. urges unity to engage Russia

Amid the tumult, British Prime Minister Theresa May, whose government is in turmoil over her plans for exiting the European Union, sounded a call for solidarity among allies.

A series of steel fences surround the U.S. ambassador's residence in London, where Donald Trump will spend the night Thursday. On Friday, the U.S. president will have lunch with Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May, then tea with the Queen at Windsor Castle before flying off to one of his golf clubs in Scotland. (Luca Bruno/Associated Press)

"As we engage Russia we must do so from a position of unity and strength — holding out hope for a better future, but also clear and unwavering on where Russia needs to change its behaviour for this to become a reality," she said.

On Wednesday, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said there are significant Western sanctions against Russia for a reason.

Trump blames Brexit on immigration

 'They agree with me on immigration and I think that's why you have Brexit in the first place,' says U.S. president 0:45

"Canada believes in those sanctions. Those sanctions will and need to stay in place as long as Russia's illegal actions remain in force. When it comes to Nord Stream, Canada has significant concerns about that project."

Trump to meet with Queen

Trump next headed to the United Kingdom on Thursday. Although Trump administration officials point to the longstanding alliance between the United States and the United Kingdom, Trump's itinerary in England will largely keep him out of central London, where significant protests are expected.

The National

Why the British protests of Trump are not surprising

 The National takes a look at how U.S. relations with the U.K. have gotten frosty since Trump took office. 3:25

Instead, a series of events — a black-tie dinner with business leaders, a meeting with May and an audience with the Queen — will happen outside the bustling city, where Mayor Sadiq Khan has been in a verbal battle with Trump.

Woody Johnson, the U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, dismissed the significance of the protests, telling Fox News that one of the reasons the two countries are so close "is because we have the freedoms that we've all fought for. And one of the freedoms we have is freedom of speech and the freedom to express your views. And I know that's valued very highly over here and people can disagree strongly and still go out to dinner."

He also said meeting the Queen would be an experience Trump "will really cherish."

With files from CBC's Murray Brewster

https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/trump-uk-visit-1.4744490

Trump says May's Brexit plan would kill U.K.-U.S. trade deal

U.S. president met by both pomp and protest as U.K. visit begins

The Associated Press · Posted: Jul 12, 2018 3:02 PM ET

May and her husband Philip stand together with Trump and his wife, Melania, at the entrance to Blenheim Palace, where they attended a dinner with specially invited guests and business leaders, near Oxford. (Hannah McKay/Reuters)

U.S. President Donald Trump lobbed a verbal hand grenade into Theresa May's carefully constructed plans for Brexit, saying that the British leader had wrecked the country's exit from the European Union and likely "killed" chances of a free-trade deal with the United States.

Trump, who is making his first presidential visit to Britain, told the Sun newspaper he had advised May on how to conduct Brexit negotiations, "but she didn't listen to me."

"She should negotiate the best way she knows how. But it is too bad what is going on," the president said.

The Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid published an interview with Trump as May was hosting him at a black-tie dinner at Blenheim Palace, birthplace of Britain's World War II Prime Minister Winston Churchill — the leader who coined the term "special relationship" for the trans-Atlantic bond.

• U.S. Embassy tells Americans in Britain to exercise caution during Trump visit

• 'Trump Baby will fly!': London mayor green lights balloon ahead of U.S. president's visit

The Sun said the interview was conducted Thursday in Brussels, before Trump travelled to Britain. His remarks on Brexit came the same day May's government published long-awaited proposals for Britain's relations with the EU after it leaves the bloc next year.

The long-awaited document proposes keeping Britain and the EU in a free market for goods, with a more distant relationship for services.

The plan has infuriated fervent Brexit supporters, who think it would limit Britain's ability to strike new trade deals around the world. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and Brexit Secretary David Davis both quit the government this week in protest.

Trump came down firmly on the side of the Brexiteers, saying what May proposed would hurt the chances of a future trade deal between the U.K. and the United States.

Trump's visit to the U.K. has so far seen both the pomp of a black-tie dinner and large protests as critics speak out against his policy and presidency. (Hannah McKay/Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

"If they do a deal like that, we would be dealing with the European Union instead of dealing with the U.K., so it will probably kill the deal," Trump said.

He said "the deal she is striking is a much different deal than the one the people voted on."

In fact, much of Britain's division over Brexit — which has split the governing Conservative party and the public at large — stems from the June 2016 referendum on withdrawing from the EU not including language about would come next.

May's government is trying to satisfy Britons who voted for their country to leave the bloc, but to set an independent course without hobbling businesses, security agencies and other sectors that are closely entwined with the EU.

May insisted earlier Thursday that her plan was exactly what Britons had voted for in the 2016 referendum.

"They voted for us to take back control of our money, our law and our borders," she said. "That is exactly what we will do."

Johnson has 'what it takes' 

In another blow to May, Trump said her now ex-foreign secretary "would be a great prime minister. I think he's got what it takes."

Trump also said he doesn't feel welcome in London — and he blames that in part on the city's mayor, Sadiq Khan.

CBC's Margaret Evans takes a look back at some of Trump's more contentious statements on the U.K.

Trump said that the tenor in London is part of why he's spending so little time in the city, saying, "I guess when they put out blimps to make me feel unwelcome, no reason for me to go to London."
Khan gave protesters permission to fly the 20-foot-tall balloon depicting Trump as an angry baby in a diaper.

May and Trump are scheduled to hold talks and a joint news conference on Friday.

Chaos for Conservatives

Trump's interview easily could overshadow the government's attempt to lay out plans for what it calls a "principled and pragmatic" Brexit.

Britain is currently part of the EU's single market — which allows for the frictionless flow of goods and services among the 28 member states — and its tariff-free customs union for goods. That will end after the U.K. leaves the bloc in March.

The plans laid out Thursday in a 98-page government paper gave Britain's most detailed answer yet to the question of what will replace them.

• Justin Trudeau wraps up NATO summit in Brussels

Under the blueprint, Britain would stick to a "common rulebook" with the EU for goods and agricultural products in return for free trade, without tariffs or border customs checks. Such an approach would avoid disruption to automakers and other manufacturers that source parts from multiple countries.

The government said Britain would act "as if in a combined customs territory" with the EU, using technology at its border to determine whether goods from third countries were bound for Britain or the EU, and charging the appropriate tariffs in those cases.

Britain says that will solve the problem of maintaining an open border between Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K., and EU member Ireland.

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May hosted dinner for the U.S. President Donald Trump and business leaders as part of the pair's official visit to the U.K. As Trump was attending the dinner, details from a new Trump interview criticizing May became public. (Ben Stansall/WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Free trade would not apply to services, which account for 80 per cent of the British economy. The government said that would give Britain "freedom to chart our own path," though it would mean less access to EU markets than there is now.

The plan also seeks to keep Britain in major EU agencies, including the European Aviation Safety Agency, the European Medicines Agency and the police agency Europol.

When the U.K. leaves the EU, it will end the automatic right of EU citizens to live and work in Britain. But Britain said EU nationals should be able to travel visa-free to Britain for tourism or "temporary business," and there should be measures allowing young people and students to work and study in Britain.

Other elements likely to anger Brexit-backers are Britain's willingness to pay the EU for access to certain agencies and the suggestion some EU citizens could continue to work in Britain visa-free.

Blenheim Palace is the birthplace of the wartime British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, of whom Trump is a big fan. (Ben Stansall/WPA Pool/Getty Images)

And while Britain will no longer fall under the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice — a longtime bugbear of Brexit supporters — British courts would "pay due regard" to European court case law in relevant cases under the proposals.

Pro-Brexit Conservative lawmaker Jacob Rees-Mogg colourfully described the plan as "the greatest vassalage since King John paid homage to Phillip II at Le Goulet in 1200."

Pro-EU lawmakers, in contrast, think the proposed post-Brexit ties with the bloc are not close enough.

With files from CBC News