Eurotopics.net

At the start of the Nato summit US President Trump has levelled serious accusations at Germany, saying it is controlled by and hostage to Russia. In the view of some commentators the president is simply voicing an unpleasant truth. Others see his comments as an strategy of humiliation aimed at weakening Europe.

Italian Interior Minister Salvini has banned an Italian coastguard ship with 67 refugees on board from docking in Sicily. He has called for "guarantees" that refugees will be brought back to Africa. Some journalists praise Salvini for helping to close refugee routes. Others accuse him of playing a dirty game aimed at destroying the EU.

The Danish bank Danske Bank has been accused of laundering up to 8.3 billion dollars between 2007 and 2015 through its Estonian subsidiary. The money allegedly came from Russia, Moldova and Azerbaijan. Journalists are dismayed that the scandal was largely ignored - not only by the bank's headquarters - for so long.

Shortly before the Nato summit in Brussels begins US President Donald Trump has once again demanded that the Europeans increase their military spending. Some commentators take the view that Trump's criticism is basically justified. Others call for a more modern definition of defence policy that goes beyond boosting defence budgets.