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The Latest: Trump says Macron has insulted NATO alliance

Posted December 03, 2019 6:00 am

The Associated Press

U.S. President Donald Trump meets NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg at Winfield House in London, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019. US President Donald Trump will join other NATO heads of state at Buckingham Palace in London on Tuesday to mark the NATO Alliance's 70th birthday. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) - The Latest on the NATO summit in London (all times local):

9:45 a.m.

U.S. President Donald Trump says French President Emmanuel Macron's recent comments that NATO is experiencing 'œbrain death'ť is very insulting to the military alliance's other 28 members.

Trump took aim at Macron with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg by his side and called his comments 'œvery nasty.'ť

Macron said the alliance was experiencing 'œbrain death'ť in an interview with the Economist published last month, suggesting that the alliance was becoming obsolete.

'œNobody needs NATO more than France,'ť Trump said.

Trump has repeatedly criticized fellow NATO members and complained that too few nations are on track to meet the alliance goal of spending at least 2% of GDP on defense by 2024.

Trump also lashed out at France for a digital service tax that he said unfairly discriminates against U.S. tech companies, including Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon.

Robert Lighthizer, the chief U.S. trade representative, on Monday recommended the U.S. respond with $2.4 billion in new tariffs on French cheese, wine and other products.

Trump is scheduled to meet Macron later Tuesday on the sidelines of the NATO summit.

___

8 a.m.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he still will not agree to a NATO defense proposal for Poland and the Baltic nations until the alliance supports Ankara's concerns related to Syrian Kurdish fighters.

Before departing to attend a NATO leaders' summit in London, Erdogan said he would discuss the issue with the leaders of Poland and the Baltics during the gathering that marks the alliance's 70th birthday.

A plan to defend the Baltic nations in case of a Russian attack requires all member states' backing.

Turkey has accused NATO allies of backing Baltic countries' security concerns but dismissing threats to Turkey from the Kurdish fighters.

Turkey considers the Kurdish fighters to be terrorists and invaded parts of northeast Syria to drive them away from its border.

U.S. President Donald Trump and U.S. first lady Melania Trump arrive at Stansted Airport in England, Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. US President Donald Trump will join other NATO heads of state at Buckingham Palace in London on Tuesday to mark the NATO Alliance's 70th birthday. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) The Associated Press

Police outside The Grove hotel in Watford ahead of the NATO Leaders Meeting beginning on Tuesday, in Hertfordshire, England, Monday, Dec. 2, 2019. U.S. President Donald Trump will gather with NATO's other leaders in London Tuesday as the world's biggest military alliance, marking its 70th birthday, battles with one of the most confounding of adversaries: Itself. (Steve Parsons/PA via AP) The Associated Press

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