Brussels, Belgium. EU leaders will rethink relations with the United States at an emergency summit on Thursday after Donald Trump’s tariff threats and comments about acquiring Greenland shook confidence in the transatlantic relationship, diplomats said.
Emergency summit focuses on longer-term approach
Diplomats said EU governments remain cautious despite Trump stepping back on Wednesday from his threat of tariffs on eight European nations, ruling out using force to take Greenland, and suggesting a deal was in sight to end the dispute.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed Trump’s reversal on Greenland and urged Europeans not to be too quick to write off the transatlantic partnership.
However, diplomats said EU governments are wary of further shifts by Trump and are focused on developing a longer-term plan for dealing with the United States under this administration and possibly its successors.
One EU diplomat said, “Trump crossed the Rubicon. He might do it again. There is no going back to what it was. And leaders will discuss it,” adding that the bloc needed to reduce heavy reliance on the United States in many areas.
“We need to try to keep him (Trump) close while working on becoming more independent from the US. It is a process, probably a long one,” the diplomat said.
Defence and trade vulnerabilities cited by diplomats
Diplomats said that after decades of relying on the United States for defence within NATO, the EU lacks the intelligence, transport, missile defence and production capabilities needed to defend itself against a possible Russian attack, giving the United States substantial leverage.
They also noted that the United States is Europe’s biggest trading partner, leaving the EU vulnerable to Trump’s policies of imposing tariffs to reduce Washington’s trade deficit in goods and, as in the case of Greenland, to achieve other goals.
A second EU diplomat said, “We need to discuss where the red lines are, how we deal with this bully across the Atlantic, where our strengths are.”
“Trump says no tariffs today, but does that mean also no tariffs tomorrow, or will he again quickly change his mind? We need to discuss what to do then,” the diplomat said.
How do you think the EU should define its red lines in dealings with the United States?
