'She's as frosty as a storm' Trump puts screws on Angela Merkel with '£300BN Nato bill'

GETTY The billionaire is said to have instructed his aides to work out Germany’s debt

The billionaire is said to have instructed his aides to work out Germany’s debt to the organisation following their meeting earlier this month.
With member countries pledging to contribute two per cent of their GDP to defence in 2014, something only a handful do, Mr Trump has been critical of those who he deems are not paying their fair share.

The bill is said to take into account how much Germany underspent by since 2002, when Chancellor Merkel’s predecessor, Gerhard Schröder, pledged to spend more on defence.

It is said to have come to £250n, with £50n interest added on.

An unnamed German minister was quoted by the Times as saying the bill was “outrageous” and added: “The concept behind putting out such demands is to intimidate the other side, but the chancellor took it calmly and will not respond to such provocations.”

Another source said: “The president has a very unorthodox view on Nato defence spending.

“The alliance is not a club with a membership fee. The commitments relate to countries' investment in their defence budgets."

Mrs Merkel is said to be 'ignoring' the bill.

But the White House has denied the claims, with spokesperson Michael Short saying the report was "false”.

Despite aides maintaining the bill does not exist, Donald Trump has been vocal about the perceived sums owed by Germany.