EU leaders meet for defence talks in Brussels as spectre of Donald Trump looms – Europe live The European Union must remain united to respond to US president Donald Trump’s threats to levy tariffs on its products, Spanish economy minister Carlos Cuerpo said on Monday, Reuters reports.
It is the first time EU leaders meet to discuss defence, but there are already some significant differences in how capitals seem to be thinking about these issues: French president Emmanuel Macron is understood to be pushing for the EU to primarily Buy European, while others worry that would further antagonise already fragile relations with the US.
Trump made it abundantly clear overnight that the EU is next, saying he would “definitely” go ahead with tariffs on the bloc “very soon” as it is “out of line.” “They take almost nothing, and we take everything,” he said in his unique style.
EU leaders are gathering in Brussels this morning for an “informal retreat” to discuss European defence, including closer cooperation on procurement of defence capabilities.
He will only join for a “working dinner” to discuss EU-UK defence, but his EU counterparts may also want to ask him on the sidelines to say a word or two about how he’s worked his charm on Trump.
