The chairman of the European Union Commission (EU) Ursula von der Layen emphasized that the efforts to remove the burden of European defense from the United States are accelerating. According to her, the United States is right in its requirements in this direction and that the position of the administration of Donald Trump does not harm allied relations.
von der Layen organized a press conference to analyze the 100 days since she again became the Chairman of the EU Commission after elections to the European Parliament last year.
Answering whether the United States considers the United States under Donald Trump, von der Lyain said: “Of course, the United States and the EU are allies. But this does not mean that the model that we adhered to the last 25-30 years or more is still faithful. The United States has been most of the responsibility for defense. We must fulfill our duties,”
. On a reminder that she had not yet met with US President Trump, who took office on January 20, von der Lyain replied: “There are contacts, but I think that we will have a personal meeting when the time comes. This is the current situation.”
The question of whether the EU will introduce an element of “reducing risks” in relations with the United States, as is the case with China, von der Lyain replied: “Definitely not. Our relations with the United States are completely different from our relations with China.”
– the tense beginning of transatlantic relations in the era of Trump
Relations between the EU and the United States have worsened significantly during the first presidential term of Trump, and during the last election campaign, the US president made alarming statements to the EU on a wide range of issues – from defense to trade.
Neither the positive messages from Brussels on the eve of Trump’s inauguration, nor the statement “We hope for a joint work” after his entry into account did not contribute to the beginning of warm relations.
She was not invited to the inauguration ceremony on January 20, the first contact between the EU and the United States was established on February 11, when the meeting of von der Lyaine with the US Vice President James David Wansa was held in Paris.
At an extraordinary defense summit on March 6, von der Lyain announced a new package of measures of 800 billion euros, which provided that Europe would take on a financial burden on ensuring its own defense, autonomously from the United States.