'The West as we knew it now not exists,' von der Leyen says amid Trump tensions

[ad_1] ADVERTISEMENT "The West as we knew it now not exists," Ursula von der Leyen has declared amid quickly deteriorating relations with the US below Donald Trump's administration, which has compelled Europe to look elsewhere for allies and companions.

Within the aftermath of Trump's sweeping tariffs, which Brussels has decried as "neither credible nor justified", the president of the European Fee has been working the telephones with representatives from Norway, Iceland, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. Von der Leyen has additionally spoken with Chinese language Premier Li Qiang, fuelling hypothesis of an imminent thaw in EU-China ties after years of tensions.

"The world has grow to be a globe additionally geopolitically, and in the present day our networks of friendship span the globe, as you'll be able to see within the debate about tariffs," von der Leyen informed the German newspaper Zeit in a wide-ranging interview revealed on Tuesday.

"Proper now, I might have these conversations 24 hours a day. Everyone seems to be asking for extra commerce with Europe – and it isn't nearly financial ties. It's also about establishing widespread guidelines and it's about predictability. Europe is understood for its predictability and reliability, which is as soon as once more beginning to be seen as one thing very useful," she mentioned.

"On the one hand, that is very gratifying; however, there may be additionally after all an enormous duty that we've to reside as much as."

Describing herself as a "nice good friend" of America and a "satisfied Atlanticist", von der Leyen insisted the long-time bond between each side of the Atlantic was nonetheless intact, regardless of the seismic adjustments unleashed by Donald Trump, together with his disruptive industrial insurance policies, contempt for the multilateral system, annexationist threats and exhausting pivot in the direction of Russia, all of which has alienated Washington's conventional allies.

Requested if America was a good friend, a former good friend or an opponent, the Fee chief prevented "these sorts of classifications" whereas admitting the relation was "difficult".

Von der Leyen didn't explicitly criticise Trump – actually, his title was solely talked about by the journalist – however recommended repudiation of the nation that Trump is trying to construct by means of his raft of govt orders.

"Europe remains to be a peace mission. We do not have bros or oligarchs making the principles. We do not invade our neighbours, and we do not punish them. Quite the opposite, there are twelve international locations on the ready listing to grow to be members of the European Union. That is about 150 million individuals," she mentioned, referring to the accession course of.

"In Europe, kids can go to good faculties, nonetheless rich their dad and mom are. We've decrease CO2 emissions, we've increased life expectancy. Controversial debates are allowed at our universities. This and extra are all values that have to be defended, and which present that Europe is greater than a union. Europe is our residence. And folks know that."

Eyes on Large Tech Relating to the continuing negotiations with the White Home, the Fee president confirmed that each America's manufactured items and digital providers could possibly be focused in retaliation if talks didn't yield an answer. Brussels is hoping the 90-day pause launched by Trump, and reciprocated by von der Leyen, will result in a compromise the place the sweeping tariffs are both abolished or considerably diminished.

However going after the dear providers supplied by Silicon Valley dangers triggering the ire of the Trump administration, which has repeatedly, and vociferously, complained concerning the rules that the EU has launched lately to rein in Large Tech's energy.

The Fee is believed to be within the remaining levels of probes below its Digital Markets Act into Meta and Apple, a intently watched course of that might result in hefty fines. The manager insists the probes are completely separate from the commerce talks however the coincident in time of each tracks has laid the groundwork for a probably explosive conflict.

"We're setting out our place clearly, and the People are doing the identical. And that's the essence of any negotiations: nothing is agreed till every little thing has been agreed. And I believe that, whether or not we're buying and selling in industrial items or digital items, we're entitled to current all elements of the state of affairs," von der Leyen mentioned.

"For them (Large Tech companies), Europe is a really enticing, wealthy market. It has 450 million individuals who, compared with the remainder of the world, have a excessive lifestyle and free time. Because of this, right here in Europe, there may be huge turnover and big earnings in digital providers. No agency desires to lose entry to this market."

ADVERTISEMENT From Beijing to Moscow Whereas Europe faces a punitive 20% "reciprocal tariff", China has been slapped with a whopping 145% price, prompting an all-out commerce with Beijing, which has responded by mountaineering levies to related ranges. The tariffs are so excessive that each markets have grow to be successfully closed to one another, stoking fears that China, looking for an alternate market, will massively re-direct its low-cost exports to Europe.

The Fee will stay "very vigilant" to make sure the flood doesn't materialise, von der Leyen mentioned. Nevertheless, when requested if Europe ought to "belief the Chinese language", she didn't refute the growing speculation of a rapprochement.

"In precept, if market entry circumstances are made harder for a big buying and selling associate just like the US, then it's clear that we're searching for new buying and selling companions to make it simpler for our firms to entry new markets," she replied.

Von der Leyen, who throughout her first mandate promoted a "de-risking" technique to take care of China, has in current weeks softened her stance, talking as a substitute of a "transactional" overseas coverage that may result in "constructive" engagement with international locations that don't essentially share the bloc's basic values, like China.

ADVERTISEMENT Nonetheless, the "no-limits" partnership between Chinese language President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to be a formidable impediment in any tried thaw. Within the interview, von der Leyen warned Putin's "imperialistic ambitions" might see him dare to assault a NATO or EU member state someday sooner or later. A number of intelligence companies estimate the Kremlin could possibly be prepared for such an assault by 2030.

With Trump displaying no intention of approving additional army or monetary help to Ukraine, Europe is speeding to select up the tab and fill the hole, even when its capabilities can't match America's would possibly. In parallel, Western allies have arrange a "coalition of the willing" to offer safety ensures to Kyiv and safeguard a possible peace deal.

"The nation has defended itself bravely with the assistance of its pals," von der Leyen mentioned when requested whether or not Europe might assist Ukraine by itself. "And this can be very necessary that we present endurance as a result of, from the beginning, Putin's calculation has been that assist for Ukraine would crumble. In truth, the other has occurred."