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Wary EU Leaders Seek to Preserve Ties 01/23 06:15
European Union leaders on Thursday welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump's
decision to drop his tariff threats over Greenland but expressed reservations
about getting involved in his Board of Peace project.
BRUSSELS (AP) -- European Union leaders on Thursday welcomed U.S. President
Donald Trump's decision to drop his tariff threats over Greenland but expressed
reservations about getting involved in his Board of Peace project.
After chairing an emergency summit called to reassess troubled ties with the
Trump administration, EU Council President Antnio Costa underlined that the
leaders believe "it's very important to preserve and cherish our transatlantic
partnership."
Striking a measured tone after days of high rhetoric over Trump's threats to
annex Greenland, Costa said the priority must now be to put in place the
EU-U.S. trade deal agreed last July. "The goal remains the effective stability
of the trade relations," he told reporters.
That said, Costa did affirm that the 27-nation trading bloc "will continue
to stand up for its interests and will defend itself, its member states, its
citizens and its companies against any form of coercion."
His remarks contrasted sharply with the more aggressive stance of French
President Emmanuel Macron.
"Europe can make itself be respected, and that's a very good thing," Macron
told reporters, as he arrived for the meeting in Brussels. "When we use the
tools that we have at our disposal we get respect and that's what happened this
week."
On the eve of the EU meeting, Trump had dramatically backed away from his
insistence on "acquiring" Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of Denmark. For
the first time, he said that he would not use force to seize the island. Trump
also dropped his threat of slapping tariffs on European nations that support
Denmark.
Yet nothing suggests that the unpredictable U.S. leader won't change his
mind again.
Trump's threats force a rethink
Before backing down, Trump had urged Denmark and the rest of NATO to stand
aside and let him have Greenland, adding an ominous warning: "You can say yes,
and we will be very appreciative. Or you can say no, and we will remember."
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk underlined that "the United States are
absolutely the most important partner when it comes to our security." But Tusk
said that it's important "to understand the difference between domination and
leadership. Leadership is okay."
No details of the hastily agreed "framework" deal that sparked Trump's
extraordinary reversal have been made public, and doubts about it persist.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen insists that her country will not
bargain over its sovereignty.
"We are sovereign state and we cannot negotiate about that, because it's a
part of the very basic democratic values. But of course, we can discuss with us
how we can strengthen our common cooperation on security in the Arctic region,"
she told reporters.
Frederiksen called for "a permanent presence from NATO in the Arctic region,
including around Greenland." Macron said that French troops would take part in
military exercises that NATO is organizing.
Asked on Thursday whether NATO is planning a future operation to improve
security in the Arctic, the alliance's top military officer, U.S. Lt. Gen
Alexus Grynkewich said: "We've done no planning yet. We have not received
political guidance to move out."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need to
build the EU's ties with Greenland. She said her team "will soon put forward a
substantive package of investments," without elaborating.
Board of Peace doubts
The leaders were less keen on Trump's proposed "Board of Peace," which was
initially envisioned as a small group of world leaders overseeing the Gaza
ceasefire but has grown into something far more ambitious. Trump has spoken
about the board replacing some of the functions of the United Nations.
Some European countries have declined invitations to join. Norway, Slovenia
and Sweden said they won't take part. Told that Macron was unlikely to take up
the offer, Trump said: "I'll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes and
he'll join."
Germany has offered a guarded and noncommittal response to Trump's
invitation, but Hungary and Bulgaria accepted.
We are ready to work together with the United States on the implementation
of the Comprehensive Peace Plan for Gaza, with a Board of Peace carrying out
its mission as a transitional administration in accordance with the United
Nations Security Council Resolution 2803.
Costa said the majority of the leaders "have serious doubts about a number
of elements in the charter of the Board of Peace related to its scope, its
governance and its compatibility with the U.N. Charter."
Europe's prime security concern
As the leaders converged on Brussels, Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy blasted his European allies for what he portrayed as their slow,
fragmented and inadequate response to Russia's invasion nearly four years ago
and its continued international aggression.
At the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Zelenskyy listed a litany of
grievances and criticisms of Europe that he said have left Ukraine at the mercy
of Russian President Vladimir Putin amid an ongoing U.S. push to end the war.
"Europe looks lost," he said, and he urged the continent to become a global
force. Shining a light on Europe's dependence on America, he contrasted its
response with Washington's bold steps in Venezuela and Iran.
Von der Leyen pointed out that the EU has spent more 193 billion euros ($227
billion) on Ukraine over four years of war, and that the bloc intends to
provide a further 90 billion euros ($106 billion) over the next two years to
help meet most of its economic and military needs.
"We know that we will never match the sacrifice of the Ukrainian people, but
what we can do is stand by their side. And I think the figures speak for
themselves," she said.
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