The leaders of the European Union (EU) gathered for the first special meeting of the year at the highest level to discuss the ways to strengthen the defense of Europe in the conditions of current geopolitics, especially threats from the United States and Russia in the Donald Trump era.
“For the first time we are gathering together to a meeting exclusively defense,” said the chairman of the EU Council Antoniu Costa in front of an informal summit in the Egmont Palace in Brussels.
He said that the summit will discuss the priorities in the field of defense, ways to ensure the necessary financing for them and the development of existing partnerships.
Having reported that the EU commission is preparing a document called “White Book” on the defense strategy, Coshta added that he is counting on the fact that this document, which is planned to be published on March 19, will play a auxiliary role in preparation for decisions that will be adopted on this summit.
– Relations with the USA
At the Summit, leaders will focus on relations with the United States.
on the agenda – Trump -announced large -scale step on the introduction of tariffs against Canada, Mexico and China, as well as a discussion of what can be done if he announces a similar decision against Europe.
Relations with the United States will also be discussed in the context of Trump’s demand “Increase defense costs” and its threats addressed to the EU Denmark about Greenland.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and British Prime Minister Kir Starmer will also take part in the summit.
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine in 2022, the European Union has been looking for decisions to strengthen its defense from threats from Russia and ensure a certain degree of “defense autonomy” from the United States near NATO umbrella.