‘The world has changed permanently, we need to change it,’ an EU chief has declared as world leaders sit down to discuss Donald Trump’s new world order.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe needed to prepare its own security strategy without relying on the US.
She said: ‘I believe Europe needs to adjust to the new security architecture and realities that we are now facing.
‘This is why Europe is preparing its own security strategy, which we plan to publish later this year. As part of this, we are upgrading our Arctic strategy.
‘Europe must speed up its push for independence – from security to economy, from defence to democracy. The point is that the world has changed permanently. We need to change with it.’
The EU chief added: ‘When it comes to the security of the Arctic region, Europe is fully committed.
‘And we share the objectives of the United States in this regard. For instance, Finland – one of the newest NATO members – is selling its first icebreakers to the US. This shows that we have the capability right here.’
Her comments came hours before European leaders gathered in Brussels for an emergency summit to discuss their future relationship with the US.
Donald Trump backed down from his threats to launch an invasion of Greenland after a furious backlash from the UK and other European allies
‘The world has changed permanently, we need to change it,’ Ursula von der Leyen said
The emergency meeting comes after Trump backed down from sending US troops to invade Greenland
The informal European Council meeting – a working dinner where leaders will tuck into scallops, chicken supreme and citrus salad, follows a tense World Economic Forum in Davos.
On Wednesday, Trump finally agreed to drop his threat to invade Greenland following a furious bust–up with Britain and other Nato allies.
Speaking after talks with Nato chief Mark Rutte, the US president said he had agreed ‘the framework of a future deal’ regarding the control of the Arctic island, which he claims is vital for American security.
Mr Trump added that he was suspending plans to slap tariffs on Britain and other countries resisting his Greenland grab.
On Wednesday night, Nato military officers were discussing an arrangement where Denmark would cede ‘small pockets of Greenlandic’ territory to the US, where it could build military bases.
Senior officials compared the proposal to UK military bases in Cyprus – which are treated as sovereign British territories – according to The New York Times.
Mr Trump told reporters it was ‘the ultimate long–term deal’. When asked how long, he replied: ‘Infinite. There is no time limit. It’s a deal that’s forever.’
On Thursday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas admitted transatlantic relations have ‘taken a big blow over the last week’ as European leaders met in Brussels.
She said the EU was living through a turbulent time. ‘One day, one way; the other day, again, everything could change.’
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived at the emergency summit sporting a pair of aviator sunglasses
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and Donald Trump announced a deal over Greenland in Davos
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas (pictured with Belgian prime minister Bart de Wever) admitted transatlantic relations have ‘taken a big blow over the last week’
She added relations between the US and Europe ‘have definitely taken a big blow over the last week’, but Europeans were ‘not willing to junk 80 years of good relations’.
French president Emmanuel Macron arrived at the Brussels summit sporting the same aviator sunglasses he wore in Davos.
He said: ‘I welcome the fact that we began the week with an escalation, with threats of invasion and tariff threats, and have now returned to a situation that I find far more acceptable, even though, we remain vigilant.’
German chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was ‘very grateful’ Trump has changed his stance on Greenland.
‘I am also grateful that he has refrained from imposing additional tariffs on 1 February,’ he added.
Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk added: ‘Europe should be here absolutely united to protect our relations with our partners on the other side of the Atlantic, even if it is much more difficult than ever before.’
