Even at NATO summit, President Trump presses trade complaints about Europe

David Jackson | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump may be meeting with allies at NATO — an organization devoted to collective international security — but he is still stressing his complaints about trade with Europe.

"I am in Brussels, but always thinking about our farmers," Trump tweeted Wednesday in the midst of NATO meetings, adding that "other countries’ trade barriers and tariffs have been destroying their businesses."

In a subsequent tweet, Trump said he would fight "for a level playing field for our farmers, and will win," even though the NATO summit is devoted to defense spending.

While Trump is using the trip to demand that NATO allies spend more on their own defense, trade and economics also played major roles in his rhetorical attack Wednesday on Germany. The president singled out Germany's energy deal with Russia.

More: Trump blasts US ally Germany as 'captive to Russia' in tense opening of NATO summit

More: As he arrives at NATO summit, President Trump hounds allies over 'delinquent' defense spending

More: Trade war: Trump administration threatens China with $200 billion in additional tariffs

I am in Brussels, but always thinking about our farmers. Soy beans fell 50% from 2012 to my election. Farmers have done poorly for 15 years. Other countries’ trade barriers and tariffs have been destroying their businesses. I will open... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 11, 2018

Critics of the president said Trump's trip to Brussels is as much about the European Union and trade as about NATO and collective defense.

"Trump is trying to conflate his issues over trade and his beef with Europe and the EU with NATO, and he's using our military strength to do that," said John Kirby, a State Department spokesman during the Barack Obama administration, speaking on CNN.

He accused Trump of "trying to hijack" the NATO summit to talk about global trade.

The president's critics have accused him of ignoring U.S. barriers to foreign products, and of seeking a tariff-fueled trade war with the Europeans (and the Chinese) that will undermine economies worldwide.