During his presidency, President Donald Trump warned European countries to reconsider the energy deals they were making with Russia.
As world leaders begin to roll out new sanctions against Russia due to its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the global energy market is in crisis because Russia is a significant exporter of oil and natural gas.
Trump recently stated, “I shut down Nord Stream 2… I’m the one that shut it down.” If the 45th president had not been tough on Russia and intervened in foreign reliance on Russian energy exports, the situation in Europe could be even worse than it is now.
A video of Trump’s message to European leaders during his presidency shows the incredible foresight of Trump. He says: “I think it’s very sad when Germany makes a massive oil and gas deal with Russia, where you’re supposed to be guarding against Russia, and Germany goes out and pays billions and billions of dollars a year to Russia.”
Trump blasted countries seeking protection against Russia while paying them for most of their energy imports.
“So we’re protecting Germany, we’re protecting France, we’re protecting all of these countries, and then numerous of the countries go out and make a pipeline deal with Russia, where they’re paying billions of dollars into the coffers of Russia,” Trump said.
“So we’re supposed to protect you against Russia, but they’re paying billions of dollars to Russia,” Trump explained, “And I think that’s very inappropriate.”
Trump highlighted the danger of nations like Germany relying on Russian energy, stating, “Ultimately, Germany will have almost 70% of their country controlled by Russia with natural gas.” Trump then asked the European leaders, “So you tell me, is that appropriate?”
Warning against the dangers of relying on Russia for oil and natural gas, Trump claimed, “Germany is totally controlled by Russia. Because they were getting from 60 to 70% of their energy from Russia and a new pipeline.” Trump added, “I think it’s a very bad thing for NATO.”
The New York Times has reported that Germany has halted operations on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline with the onset of Russian aggression. Perhaps Trump’s warnings are finally being heeded as the world begins to realize it can no longer depend on Russia for energy.