US leader Donald Trump backed by Poland has begun the Nato summit with a tirade against Germany's plan to build a pipeline with Russia.
"Germany is a captive of Russia" Trump said after meeting Nato head Stoltenberg in Brussels on Wednesday.
"Germany's totally controlled by Russia because they'll be getting from 60 to 70% of their energy from Russia and a new pipeline...and I think it's a very bad thing for Nato" he said.
"We [the US] are supposed to protect you [Europe] from Russia but Germany is making pipeline deals with Russia … explain that" he added.
"We're supposed to be guarding against Russia and Germany goes out and pays billions and billions of dollars a year to Russia" he said.
He was loose with the facts, given that Russian oil and gas account for just 20% of Germany's energy mix and that NS2 is being financed by private firms from Austria, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK rather than by German public money.
The remarks, delivered at the start of a two-day Nato summit met with a swift rebuttal by Merkel.
"I experienced first hand that a part of Germany was occupied by the Soviet Union. It's good that we can now make our own decisions" she said.
Trump's assault pleased Poland which sees the pipeline as a strategic threat.
"NS1 helped Russia to modernise its army then attack Georgia and Ukraine and violate international law. NS2 would also help Russia to pursue revisionist policy. The question is what we are going to do about that?" the Polish foreign minister said referring to an existing pipeline called Nord Stream 1.
"Only the US can guarantee the security of countries such as Poland, on the eastern flank," he said.
He also repeated calls for the US to create a permanent military base in Poland.
