“That’s why, the proposal to impose additional tariffs is a mistake, especially among historical allies. The EU and the US reached a trade agreement last July, and in politics, as in business, agreements are to be fulfilled. “When friends shake hands, that gesture must have real meaning,” he insisted.
In July, Von der Leyen herself and Trump closed an agreement in Scotland by which the EU accepted a general tariff of 15% without retaliating. Not only that, but the Europeans committed to lowering rates on American industrial products to zero. The European Parliament has announced that it will paralyze this cut due to the Greenland crisis.
“We consider the American people not only our ally, but also our friend. Pushing us into a dangerous downward spiral would only benefit the adversaries that we are both determined to keep out of our strategic environment. Therefore, our response will be firm, united and proportionate,” says the president.
To avoid this scenario, Von der Leyen announced in Davos that she is preparing a package of measures to strengthen security in the Arctic, to which she invites the US to join. Of course, always in “full solidarity with Greenland and Denmark: “the sovereignty and integrity of their territory are not negotiable“, he has settled.
The first point of this plan is a “great boost for European investment in Greenland“. “We will collaborate closely with Greenland and Denmark to see how we can continue supporting the local economy and infrastructure,” said the German, who, however, no deadlines or figures have been specified.
Secondly, the EU is committed to working with the US to strengthen Arctic security in a broader sense, increasing investment.
“In particular, I think we should allocate a portion of our increased defense spending to developing a European icebreaker capability and other equipment vital to the security of the Arctic,” says Von der Leyen.
Finally, the EU will strengthen its security partnerships with other allied countries in the region, in particular the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway and Iceland.
In Davos, Von der Leyen announced that the EU will update its security strategy at the end of the year, incorporating a specific chapter on the Arctic. But he makes it clear that, for Brussels, there is a principle that is not negotiated: “It is up to sovereign peoples to decide their own future“.
“When I started preparing this year’s speech, security in the Upper North region was not the main topic,” confessed the president of the Commission. “But, in many ways, it is part of the broader approach that I have presented today,” he added.
“Europe must accelerate its commitment to independence, whether in matters of security, economy, defense or democracy. The fact is that the world has changed permanently. And we must change with it,” says Von der Leyen.