EU leaders search to protect ties with US

[ad_1] European Council President Antonio Costa has stated that the EU leaders imagine "it is crucial to protect and cherish our transatlantic partnership."

He made the feedback after chairing an emergency summit in Brussels late on Thursday.

The night assembly was referred to as to reassess ties with United States over President Donald Trump 's treats to annex the semi-autonomous Danish territory of Greenland and impose tariffs on choose EU nations.

However on the eve of the summit, whereas attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump suspended his tariff threats and stated he would not use power to take the Arctic island.

EU leaders to show give attention to implementing commerce cope with US

The summit did not make any resolution. However Costa stated the precedence now should be to implement the EU-US trade deal agreed in July, 2025.

The US is the EU's largest buying and selling accomplice. "The purpose stays the efficient stability of the commerce relations," Costa advised reporters.

On the identical time, Costa warned that the EU "will proceed to face up for its pursuits and can defend itself, its member states, its residents and its corporations in opposition to any type of coercion."

EU goals to double monetary assist to Greenland

Talking after the summit, European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen has admitted that Europe has invested "too little within the Arctic and the safety of the Arctic."

Within the subsequent EU price range from 2028, the Fee additionally needs to double monetary assist for Greenland, she stated.

She stated her staff "will quickly put ahead a complete bundle of investments," in Greenland with out elaborating what these could possibly be.

Chancellor Merz stated on arrival that he was 'grateful' for Trump's obvious Greenland climbdown Picture: Omar Havana/AP Picture/image alliance

Merz 'grateful' for sudden climbdown in Davos

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed Trump's apparent U-turn .

"I'm very grateful that President Trump has distanced himself from his authentic plans to take over Greenland, and I'm additionally grateful that he has kept away from imposing further tariffs on February 1," Merz advised reporters forward of the summit.

Merz additionally stated that the EU nations "must strengthen the resilience and robustness of the European Union" going ahead.

Denmark calls for everlasting NATO presence in Arctic area

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen repeated her nation's name for an intensified NATO navy presence within the Arctic area and the semi-autonomous territory of Greenland , in response to Trump's claims of US management being crucial to repair perceived safety shortfalls.

"We want a everlasting presence from NATO within the Arctic area, together with round Greenland," Frederiksen advised reporters. Like leaders in Greenland, she reiterated that sovereignty was a purple line, however indicated a willingness to debate additional cooperation with the US.

"It is clear for everyone that we're a sovereign state and we can not negotiate about that. However of course we are able to talk about with the US how we can strengthen our widespread cooperation on safety in the arctic area," she stated.

The US already has in depth rights to navy entry and development in Greenland courting again the higher a part of a century. Trump has touted a "complete entry" deal through which the US will get "all the things we needed" for free of charge, however has not gone into element or defined how this differs from the established order.

NATO Secretary-Basic Mark Rutte advised the Reuters information company that Western allies would step up their presence within the area below the deal, however didn't flesh out how.

Greenland: The race for energy, sources and identification To view this video please allow JavaScript, and take into account upgrading to an online browser that supports HTML5 video

Reduction tempered with warning

EU international coverage chief Kaja Kallas stated that regardless of Trump's change of tack, there was a lot for European leaders to debate.

"I feel all people's relieved by the latest bulletins," she stated. "We have now additionally seen that on this one-year interval, we're prepared for lots of unpredictability."

"We have to nonetheless talk about our plans for various situations as a result of all the things may change," she added, stating that neither EU members nor the US benefited from unpredictability in transatlantic relations. "Each type of disagreement that allies have, like Europe and America, is simply benefiting our adversaries who're wanting and having fun with the view."

Macron: 'We stay extraordinarily vigilant'

French President Emmanuel Macron , who had made the clearest threats of considering using mechanisms like the EU's anti-coercion trade tool to counter any US tariffs at Davos, warned that such mechanisms remained within the EU's arsenal ought to they be wanted.

"What we should conclude from that is that when Europe responds in a united method, utilizing the devices at its disposal when it's threatened, it may well command respect — and that could be a excellent factor," he stated in doorstep feedback in Brussels.