In a wide-ranging speech delivered at the U.N.’s “Climate Week” on Wednesday, President Donald Trump told the assembly that European nations “immediately cease all energy purchases from Russia” before the U.S. would agree to implement further tariffs on the government of Russian President Vladimir Putin. But Europe’s countries weren’t alone in being called out: Trump began with condemnation of China and India for continuing to be the main buyers of Russian crude.
Here is the relevant passage from the President’s speech:
“China and India are the primary funders of the ongoing war by continuing to purchase Russian oil. But inexcusably, even NATO countries have not cut off much Russian energy and Russian energy products. Which, as you know, I found out about two weeks ago, and I wasn’t happy. Think of it: They’re funding the war against themselves. Who the hell ever heard of that one?”
“In the event that Russia is not ready to make a deal to end the war, then the United States is fully prepared to impose a very strong round of powerful tariffs which would stop the bloodshed, I believe very quickly. But, for those tariffs to be effective, European nations – all of you are gathered here right now – would have to join us in adopting the exact same measures.”
“You’re much closer to this thing – we have an ocean in between, you’re right there. Europe has to step it up: They can’t be doing what they’re doing. They’re buying oil from Russia while they’re fighting Russia. It was very embarrassing to them when I found out about it, I can tell you that.”
“They have to immediately cease all energy purchases from Russia; otherwise, we’re all wasting a lot of time. So, I’m ready to discuss this, we are going to discuss this today with the European nations all gathered here. I’m sure they’re thrilled to speak about it, but that’s the way it is. I like to speak my mind and speak the truth.”
This is far from the first time in which President Trump has warned Europe’s leaders of the self-destructive nature of their dependence on Russian oil and natural gas. Indeed, during his first G20 conference in July, 2017, Trump warned European heads of state at the time that their dependency could embolden Putin’s expansionist ambitions specifically related to Ukraine.
During a breakfast meeting, the President singled out Germany over its pending approval of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which promised to expand Russia’s energy leverage related to that country and much of the rest of northwestern Europe. His remarks were met with ridicule in a speech delivered during the same conference, with the German delegates openly laughing at him.
Of course, five years later, with a much weaker U.S. president safely in place, Putin ordered his army to invade Ukraine in late February 2022, and both the Nord Stream and Nord Stream 2 pipelines were blown up shortly thereafter by still unidentified perpetrators. The ensuing conflict has led to hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian and Russian deaths and the displacement of millions of Ukrainian citizens, ranking it as one of the largest human calamities since World War II.
Notably, no one in the U.N. assembly audience was laughing at President Trump as he spoke on Wednesday. The disaster he warned Europe’s leaders of eight years ago has come to full fruition, with even more horrific results than even Trump had envisioned, a reality no one in that assembly hall can any longer deny.
Whether European leaders are now finally prepared to end their unhealthy energy dependence on the country they claim to be their mortal enemy is anyone’s guess, but one thing is certain: None among them can ever claim they have not been warned, once again and very publicly, by this President of the United States.
David Blackmon is an energy writer and consultant based in Texas. He spent 40 years in the oil and gas business, where he specialized in public policy and communications.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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