Los leaders of the European Union meets this Thursday to evaluate your relations with the United Statesafter President Donald Trump has backed down on its threats to impose tariffs on countries that left in defense of Denmark and Greenland: “When Europe is not divided, when we stand together and when we are clear and firm, also in our willingness to defend ourselves, then the results are seen,” he said la primera ministra danesa, Mette Frederiksenupon arrival at the meeting.
A message that many leaders have echoed. “When Europe is united, strong, it reacts quickly… things return to order and calm“said the French president, Emmanuel Macron. “I’m glad we started the week with a way to escalation, threats, invasion threats and tariff threats and we have returned to a situation that seems much more acceptable to me,” added the Frenchman, who has in any case called on the leaders to stay “vigilant”.
Community sources recognized that this summit, which the president of the European Council, António Costa, called last Sunday, after Trump announced a 10% tariff increase on imports from half a dozen countries, has changed radically in 24 hours. The Republican’s decision to back down reduces urgency and severity, but not necessity to bring leaders to the table. “The president does not call a summit after each publication on social networks,” the same sources have pointed out.
The transatlantic link, damaged
Frederiksen has appreciated the support that his country has received in recent weeks. “It has been extremely important given the difficult situation they have put us in,” said the Dane. The prime minister has avoided going into the details of the negotiations with the United Stateswho demand the annexation of Greenland citing reasons of national security.
Frederiksen explained that Denmark has asked NATO for a greater presence in the Arcticincluding Greenland, and in parallel, will continue the diplomatic contacts with the United States. “We can discuss our defense agreement, but it has to be a framework that recognizes us as a sovereign country“the Prime Minister insisted.
Asked about If you can trust WashingtonFreeriksen has taken a very long pause. “We have worked hand in hand with the United States for many years, but we have to work together with respect, without threatening each other each other,” the Prime Minister said. “I hope to find a political solution within the framework of democracy where we can cooperate as allies.”
The Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, He does not believe that the link between Washington and the Twenty-seven is permanently damaged. But he has acknowledged that what has happened in recent weeks “It has been detrimental to trust between European countries and the United States”. Kristersson hopes to be able to resume cooperation both in the economic and security spheres, “but I think that a necessary precondition is that the European Union is very, very, very clear in its position that we support Denmark and Greenland together, and We do not accept being blackmailed by any country. And even less for an ally“he warned.
The Baltic dissidence
Although the general message is, indeed, of support for Denmark and Greenlandand respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Some leaders are more lukewarm about Trump. The President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėdahas said that we must seek “a positive agenda” with the United States and that we must opt for “cooperation”, not “confrontation”, and “avoid misunderstandings”.
“Coercion is not the way,” Nauseda acknowledged, clarifying that he is “against daring actions” because he continues to consider the United States as the “greatest ally”. The Lithuanian has criticized that the anti-coercion instrument has been on the table. He did so after the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tuskhas criticized Trump’s pressure and highlighted, like his colleagues, the importance of European unity.
The Latvian Prime Minister, Evika Silinashas also celebrated the de-escalation and the commitment to dialogue. Asked about the state of relations with Washington, Siliņa described it as “intense” and “active”, adding that “it would be worse not to have any”. Asked directly if the EU can trust Trump, she said that it is not her role to evaluate him.
An uncertain future
The leaders met in Brussels when marks one year since Donald Trump arrived at the White House. A year that has been marked by a trade war, rudeness and insults to Europeans, and that has concluded with a direct threat to national sovereignty and territorial integrity from one of its member countries.
24 hours ago, leaders were considering how to respond to threats. Trump has backed down, but the problem is far from solved. The security of Greenland and Denmark remains at stake, as does the future of the I’LL TAKE in this context. All this, after the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyhas announced the first trilateral negotiations for a peace agreement that will be fundamental for guarantee European securityand which is also largely in the hands of the White House.
“The word for this year has been unpredictability and this is what we are experiencing,” said the head of European diplomacy, Kaja Kalla. The leaders are aware that they have dodged this bullet, but The uncertainty, as the months go by, is getting bigger and bigger. That will be the center of the conversation this Thursday. How to respond, united before Trump, no matter what.
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