Trump says EU a 'foe' forward of assembly with Putin

Donald Trump has called the European Union a "foe" of America, as he departed from the UK ahead of a summit with Vladimir Putin.

The US president left after another round of golf at his Turnberry resort on Sunday after a four-day visit. He will hold talks with the Russian president in Helsinki on Monday.

Ahead of the highly anticipated talks, he said has "low expectations" but added that he thinks that "maybe some good" will come of them.

Mr Trump said the US has "a lot of foes" and named the bloc as one of them.

"I think the European Union is a foe, what they do to us in trade," he said in an interview to CBS News while in Scotland.

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He added: "You wouldn't think of the European Union, but they're a foe."

Mr Trump said he respects Europe's leaders but says they have taken advantage of the US on trade and defence spending.

The comment on a bloc that has been one of America's staunchest allies drew sharp condemnation from the European Council President Donald Tusk.

"America and the EU are best friends. Whoever says we are foes is spreading fake news," Mr Tusk said on Twitter.

Image: Air Force One leaving the UK on Sunday afternoon

Mr Trump singled out others as America's enemies.

"Russia is a foe in certain respects. China is a foe economically, certainly they are a foe," said Mr Trump. "But that doesn't mean they are bad. It doesn't mean anything.

"It means that they are competitive."

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Video: Trump waves to Turnberry protestors

Earlier this week, Mr Trump claimed NATO spending will increase "like never before". However the French president, Emmanuel Macron, denied he claim that NATO allies agreed to boost spending over 2%.

Mr Trump has been urged to raise the death of a woman who was exposed to novichok in Amesbury and criminal charges being brought against a dozen Russians accused of hacking Democratic Party emails during the 2016 US presidential election.

Original Article

World

March 18, 2019