Merkel responds to Trump: 'I have witnessed' Germany under Soviet control

[Zippyjuan]

At his first breakfast at the NATO meetings Trump accused Germany of being "captive of Russia" for importing some of their natural gas from that country. She grew up in communist East Germany which was under the control of the USSR at the time.


German Chancellor Angela Merkel appeared to hit back at US President Donald Trump's claim that "Germany is a captive of Russia" by drawing on her own upbringing in Soviet-controlled East Germany.

"I wanted to say that, because of current events, I have witnessed this myself, that a part of Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union. And I am very happy that we are today unified in freedom as the Federal Republic of Germany," she said in an arrival statement at the NATO Summit Wednesday, according to an English translation of her remarks.

Merkel, who was born in Hamburg in 1954, has spoken on numerous occasions about her upbringing under Soviet occupation.

"The first political event from my childhood that I remember distinctly is the building of the Berlin Wall 50 years ago. I was 7 years old at the time. Seeing grown-ups, even my parents, so stunned that they broke out in tears, shook me to the core. My mother's family, for example, was divided by the building of the Wall," she said in remarks upon receiving the US Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011.

"I grew up in the part of Germany that was not free, the German Democratic Republic. For many years I dreamed of freedom, just as many others did -- also of the freedom to travel to the United States," she said then.

Although she did not mention the US President by name in her NATO statement, Merkel's comments seemed to be a direct repudiation of Trump's earlier remarks, in which he maligned Germany for getting natural gas from Russia.

"Germany is a captive of Russia," Trump said at a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. "It's very inappropriate."

"I think it's something that NATO has to look at," Trump said. "Germany is totally controlled by Russia."

Trump's comments drew pushback from Stoltenberg, who defended the importance of the alliance's defense goals.

[Zippyjuan]

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44794688


Trump: How much of Germany's gas comes from Russia?

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/1067D/production/_102479176_trump_gas_quotepic-nc.png

The claim: Germany imports 60% to 70% of its energy from Russia.

Reality Check verdict: Germany relies on Russia for most of its imports of natural gas. But gas makes up less than 20% of Germany's energy mix for power production.

At a Nato summit, US President Donald Trump criticised Germany for importing so much of its gas from Russia while expecting the US to pay to protect it from Russia.

"Germany is totally controlled by Russia because they will be getting from 60% to 70% of their energy from Russia and a new pipeline," he said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has responded by saying that having had experience of a time when part of Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union, she is now confident that the whole country is independent.

Mr Trump is right that Germany relies on Russia for most of its gas imports. Eurostat estimates that Russia is responsible for between 50% and 75% of Germany's gas imports.

The commodities brokerage Marex Spectron told Reality Check that about 60% of Germany's gas was imported from Russia, with most of the rest coming from Norway.

But that does not mean that 60% of Germany's energy comes from Russia - Germany's energy mix for power production is about 40% coal, more than 30% renewables, less than 20% gas and 10% nuclear, according to Marex Spectron.



That would mean that Russia does supply about 15% of Germany's energy- not "60- 70%".

[Swordsmyth]

She was part of Germany being under Soviet control.

[shakey1]

They likely pay less from Russia then they would from US.

[Zippyjuan]

They likely pay less from Russia then they would from US.

It would be a really long pipeline. Shipping in tankers is costly too.

[Brian4Liberty]

Merkel responds to Trump: 'I have witnessed' Germany under Soviet control

She doesn't miss the foreign Soviet master, but she longs for the days of socialism, the Stasi and total control.

[phill4paul]

Shaddup, Merkel. No one cares. Pay for the cost and upkeep for our troops in Germany or get your own damned Army, Air Force and Navy.

[Jamesiv1]

Anybody that thinks its wrong to make up random stats about Germany can get the hell out.

[dude58677]

So Zippyjyan, why aren't you moving to Germany? You'd have a Head of State that is very much like Hillary Clinton.

[Zippyjuan]

So Zippyjyan, why aren't you moving to Germany? You'd have a Head of State that is very much like Hillary Clinton.

I have been to Germany. Nice country. Also East Germany. Not so nice.

[Swordsmyth]

I have been to Germany. Nice country. Also East Germany. Not so nice.

Which side were you really working for?

[dude58677]

I have been to Germany. Nice country. Also East Germany. Not so nice.

That's very good and very nice. Now why don't you make like a tree and leave?

[Zippyjuan]

That's very good and very nice. Now why don't you make like a tree and leave?

US is the best place on Earth (that I have seen- I have not experienced the entire planet). If the US is so bad, why do you stay? Of course then you would become the foreigner.

[dude58677]

US is the best place on Earth (that I have seen- I have not experienced the entire planet). If the US is so bad, why do you stay? Of course then you would become the foreigner.

America is being Made Great Again why should I leave?

[Zippyjuan]

America is being Made Great Again why should I leave?

No reason either of us should leave.

[milgram]

I did not like that he was discouraging trade with Russia. More trade less NATO would be the best path forward.

[Swordsmyth]

I did not like that he was discouraging trade with Russia. More trade less NATO would be the best path forward.

He is using their own anti-Russia propaganda against them, the goal here is to break NATO and the EU.

[Zippyjuan]

He is using their own anti-Russia propaganda against them, the goal here is to break NATO and the EU.

Putin would love that- yes.

[Swordsmyth]

Putin would love that- yes.

As would any anti-globalist patriot, I don't consider Putin to be a "Good Guy" but he isn't wrong about everything.

[phill4paul]

Putin would love that- yes.

So would Ron Paul. He says we should have gotten out of NATO 30 years ago. I agree.

[timosman]

She was part of Germany being under Soviet control.

She's so used to preference falsification she doesn't even notice it. My policies are great! We just need to get rid of people who oppose them(brainwashing is ok)!

[Swordsmyth]

With less than a week to go before President Trump is scheduled to meet with President Putin in Helsinki, the State Department has decided to renew its pressure campaign on Western businesses invested in Russia's Nord Stream 2 pipeline to Germany.
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2018.07.12nord.JPG
According to Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sky-m-a-fox/comcast-raises-bid-for-sky-to-34-billion-tops-foxs-offer-idUSKBN1K10KU?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Reuters%2FworldNews+%28Reuter s+World+News%29), the State Department has doubled down on previous warnings to Europe, most recently in May when Trump gave Merkel an ultimatum (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-17/trump-gives-merkel-ultimatum-drop-russian-gas-pipeline-or-trade-war-begins)to drop the Russian gas pipeline, and has been "making it clear" to firms involved with "the Russian energy export pipeline sector" that they're at risk of being sanctioned.

"We have been clear that firms working in the Russian energy export pipeline sector are engaging in a line of business that carries sanctions risk," a spokesman for the U.S. State Department told Reuters.
"We believe it (the pipeline) would undermine Europe’s overall energy security and stability by providing Russia another tool for the political coercion of European countries, especially Ukraine. Russia understands that this project is dividing Europe, and is using that to its advantage."
The warning comes after President Trump accused Germany (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-07-11/trump-calls-out-german-hypocrisy-over-nord-stream-2-pipeline) of being a "captive of Russia" because of its dependence on the pipeline for LNG, unleashing a diplomatic scandal ahead of his official NATO visit.
https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/0_D3XdNzot2L0n2CC2_2.jpg
Five prominent Western firms have invested in the pipeline - Wintershall and Uniper, in Germany, OMV in Austria, Anglo-Dutch Shell (a British-Dutch multinational) and Engie of France.
Should the State Department follow through with its threat, the EU has threatened swift retaliation (given that Germany isn't the only European country that's energy-dependent on Russia). That's also why the EU has warned against moves in the US Congress to escalate sanctions with Russia (though the US media would have you believe that Trump is the true source of resistance). The point that Trump made earlier about the pipeline undermining NATO is actually the official position of the State Department. It also happens to be correct. Germany and much of Europe are effectively held hostage (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-07-11/trump-calls-out-german-hypocrisy-over-nord-stream-2-pipeline) by Russian energy exports. While the US media reports that Trump himself is undermining NATO by meeting with Putin, there are probably more than a few EU energy ministers who were relieved at the prospect of their meeting.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-07-11/trump-doubles-down-us-threatens-sanctions-western-investors-russian-pipeline

[AuH20]

1017000167059451904

[oyarde]

Anybody that thinks its wrong to make up random stats about Germany can get the hell out.

Yes , picking on germans and Merkel is fully approved by Oyarde.

[Jamesiv1]

1017000167059451904
The magical mystical rhymes of The DJ Donald Trumpmaster D.

[specsaregood]

I did not like that he was discouraging trade with Russia. More trade less NATO would be the best path forward.

He wasn't really. He was pointing out the stupidity of having us/NATO supposedly in Germany to protect them FROM Russia, all the while having Germany trading with Russia and giving Russia a major power position by relying on them for energy.

[Krugminator2]

She doesn't miss the foreign Soviet master, but she longs for the days of socialism, the Stasi and total control.


Interestingly Trump, Hillary, and severe Libertarian Bill Weld all listed Merkel as their favorite world leader. http://therightscoop.com/not-making-this-up-they-all-said-angela-merkel-was-their-favorite-world-leader/

[TommyJeff]

At his first breakfast at the NATO meetings Trump accused Germany of being "captive of Russia" for importing some of their natural gas from that country. She grew up in communist East Germany which was under the control of the USSR at the time.

Zippy,
You apparently did a good job fact checking some numbers and I will take you at your word they are correct.
But the bigger point trump was making is that Germany is spending less than their agreed upon amount for nato defense and that results in USA spending more to pay Germany’s share.....and that nato defense is specifically defending against places such as Russia.

Can you see the problem or irony or whichever word you’d like to use, when Germany asks the USA to pay for German defense against Russia and then agrees to make a large trade deal with Russia?

[timosman]

Zippy,
You apparently did a good job fact checking some numbers and I will take you at your word they are correct.
But the bigger point trump was making is that Germany is spending less than their agreed upon amount for nato defense and that results in USA spending more to pay Germany’s share.....and that nato defense is specifically defending against places such as Russia.

Can you see the problem or irony or whichever word you’d like to use, when Germany asks the USA to pay for German defense against Russia and then agrees to make a large trade deal with Russia?

Zippyjuan Bueller?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP0mQeLWCCo

[nikcers]

Interestingly Trump, Hillary, and severe Libertarian Bill Weld all listed Merkel as their favorite world leader. http://therightscoop.com/not-making-this-up-they-all-said-angela-merkel-was-their-favorite-world-leader/

What does that mean when he says he was always a "Merkel person"

[TommyJeff]

@Zippyjuan (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/member.php?u=17293) Bueller?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP0mQeLWCCo

Lol

[Swordsmyth]

Defense Logistics Agency data show that close to 40 percent of oil used at military sites in Germany comes from Russia. In southwestern Germany, for example, the Ramstein Air Base (https://www.ramstein.af.mil/Units/) serves as the headquarters for U.S. Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) installation.
U.S. bases need backup power supply to ensure reliable electricity and other energy supplies should a power outage occur, or should the energy supply be compromised, Constance Douris, Vice President of the Lexington Institute, writes (https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/bad-news-us-military-sites-europe-are-dependent-russia-electricity-27202).
The backup supply could come from microgrids capable of operating off the main grid, bulk energy storage, and even electric vehicles (EVs) whose batteries can be used to power homes, Douris argues.
Backup solutions for U.S. military bases are imperative in the face of the constantly growing Russian energy supply to Europe, she says.
Russia’s gas giant Gazprom, for example, has been raising its exports to Europe and its gas sales in the first half of this year exceeded 100 bcm for the first time—at 101.2 bcm, they were 5.8 percent higher (http://www.gazpromexport.ru/en/presscenter/information/2194/) than the exports in the first half of 2017, the company says.

Then, there is the Gazprom-led highly controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline project (https://oilprice.com/Energy/Natural-Gas/Russia-Pushes-Ahead-With-Controversial-Nord-Stream-2.html), which is opposed by European Union (EU) institutions and some EU members, not to mention U.S. lawmakers.

More at: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/US-Military-Bases-In-Europe-Depend-On-Russian-Energy.html

[timosman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sM2sKk4DPM