EU chief guarantees ‘unflinching’ response to new tariffs as Trump trolls and threatens on social media

[ad_1] Hearken to this text

Estimated 5 minutes

The audio model of this text is generated by AI-based expertise. Mispronunciations can happen. We're working with our companions to repeatedly evaluation and enhance the outcomes.

European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen stated on Tuesday the EU shared issues with the USA about Arctic safety, but when President Donald Trump adopted by means of with new tariffs based mostly on a dispute over Greenland, the alliance's response could be "unflinching" and "united."

Von der Leyen, talking on the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, stated the U.S. dangers sending its relationship with EU allies "right into a downward spiral" that may solely profit shared adversaries.

Trump introduced deliberate tariffs this weekend on eight international locations that despatched small numbers of navy personnel to Greenland final week, following the U.S. president's repeated statements that he needed to take over Denmark's huge Arctic island. The Trump administration has talked about buying Greenland, and a few White Home officers have acknowledged that navy choices weren't being dominated out to grab the island.

These statements have continued even within the face of sustained resistance and negativity from Greenland and Denmark and its allies, and public polling within the U.S. has indicated Trump's ambitions is probably not shared by a majority of Individuals.

<img loading="lazy" alt="A short-haired woman in a suit jacket is shown at an angle speaking at a podium. " srcset="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/a55687be-b207-4bca-8283-78f1d91b8eee,1768908375288/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C7201%2C4801%29%3BResize%3D805 805w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/a55687be-b207-4bca-8283-78f1d91b8eee,1768908375288/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C7201%2C4801%29%3BResize%3D1104 1104w,https://i.cbc.ca/ais/a55687be-b207-4bca-8283-78f1d91b8eee,1768908375288/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C7201%2C4801%29%3BResize%3D1280 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 762px) 93.6vw,730px" src="https://i.cbc.ca/ais/a55687be-b207-4bca-8283-78f1d91b8eee,1768908375288/full/max/0/default.jpg?im=Crop%2Crect%3D%280%2C0%2C7201%2C4801%29%3B" style="aspect-ratio:1.499895855030202" data-cy="image-img"/> Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Fee, speaks Tuesday on the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland. (Markus Schreiber/The Related Press) Trump stated the tariffs of 10 per cent would go into impact on Feb. 1 and rise to 25 per cent on June 1.

"In politics as in enterprise — a deal is a deal and when mates shake arms, it should imply one thing," stated von der Leyen, referring to the commerce deal the EU and U.S. struck final summer time.

LISTEN | Ex-NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu, 2 different consultants on the disaster: The Present 18:50 Can NATO survive Trump's threats in opposition to Greenland?

The defence alliance's strongest member is threatening the sovereignty of one other. Whether or not or not the USA truly invades Greenland, the mere prospect reveals the disaster dealing with NATO. Three defence consultants from Canada, the USA, and Europe on what comes subsequent. Social media flurry Trump's threats have sparked outrage and a flurry of diplomatic exercise throughout Europe, as leaders contemplate potential countermeasures, together with retaliatory tariffs and the first-ever use of the European Union's anti-coercion instrument.

The U.S. president shared a number of bellicose social media posts early Tuesday, and stated there was "no going again" on his aim to regulate Greenland. One publish Trump shared together with an image of a gathering with European leaders final yr on the Oval Workplace, however with what seems to be an edited map on show by which the land plenty of Canada and Greenland are depicted with American stars and stripes.

New media publish from Donald J. Trump(TS: 20 Jan 00:58 ET) pic.twitter.com/l94Se0U7G4

—TrumpTruthOnX One other publish appeared designed to wreck French President Emmanuel Macron, who has clashed with Trump on Greenland and turned down his request to hitch a board to supervise the reconstruction of Gaza. Trump shared a screenshot of a non-public message between the leaders, whereby Macron instructed Trump he didn't perceive what the U.S. president was "doing on Greenland."

Trump's replies to Macron, in the event that they existed, have been not a part of the screenshot that he posted on his Reality Social account early on Tuesday.

Trump stated in one other publish he had spoken to NATO Secretary Basic Mark Rutte and that he would meet with unspecified European leaders this week in Davos.

Denmark ready to speak The second Trump administration's aggressive statements have brought about confusion and consternation, as a 1951 settlement between the U.S. and Denmark offers Washington the appropriate to maneuver round freely and assemble navy bases in Greenland, so long as Denmark and Greenland are notified.

Danish International Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen reiterated on Monday the federal government was open to discussing these form of points as "pragmatic, cold-blooded Scandinavian individuals." Denmark supported the U.S. by means of NATO after the Sept. 11, 2001, assaults, deploying troops to Afghanistan.

WATCH | How ought to Canada react?: Carney ‘strolling a tightrope’ on Greenland, says former prime soldier

As Carney weighs sending troops to Greenland in defiance of Trump’s threats, Canada’s former chief of defence workers says NATO faces a do-or-die check and that the prime minister 'strolling a tightrope' together with his choice. However Trump and a number of other members of his administration have questioned Denmark's centuries-old terriorial declare.

The island is strategically positioned between Europe and North America, making it a vital website for the U.S. ballistic missile defence system for many years. Its mineral wealth additionally aligns with Washington's ambition to cut back reliance on China.

The U.S. navy maintains a everlasting presence at Pituffik House Base (previously Thule airbase) in northwest Greenland. Because the world's largest island with a inhabitants of solely 57,000 individuals, Greenland isn't an impartial member of NATO however is roofed by Denmark's membership within the Western alliance.

Von der Leyen in her speech stated that Europe should enhance its independence within the face of what she described as seismic change in worldwide relations, together with enhancing safety ties with companions she named as together with Canada, Iceland, Norway and the UK.

Talking at a information convention in Moscow, Sergei Lavrov stated Russia had no curiosity in interfering in Greenland's affairs and that Washington knew that Moscow itself had no plans to take management of the island. However Lavrov, Russia's overseas minister, additionally stated that Greenland was not "a pure half" of Denmark.

Shares slid on Tuesday, and the U.S. the greenback fell for a second straight day as Trump has intensified his push.

Trump's menace of extra tariffs on European nations has revived speak of the "Promote America" commerce that emerged within the aftermath of his sweeping "Liberation Day" levies final April, the place traders promote U.S. shares, greenback and Treasuries.

"Even when there may be de-escalation this episode will nonetheless trigger many to doubt the credibility of any take care of Trump and so tariff uncertainty will stay elevated," MUFG's Europe economist Henry Prepare dinner stated.