“The West where we knew it didn’t exist anymore,” Ursula von der Reyen declared amid a rapidly deteriorating relationship with the United States under the Donald Trump administration.
In the aftermath of Trump’s drastic tariffs that Brussels accused of “unreliable or justified,” the European Commission president has worked mobile phones with representatives from Norway, Iceland, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates. Von Der Leyen also spoke with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, promoting speculation of the imminent melting of Eu-China ties after years of tension.
“The world has become a geopolitical planet, and today, as we can see from the discussion about tariffs, our network of friendships is spreading all over the world,” von der Leyen told the German newspaper Zeit. Extensive interviews It will be released on Tuesday.
“Now I can make these conversations 24 hours a day. Everyone wants more trade with Europe. It’s not just economic connections. It’s about establishing general rules and it’s about predictability. Europe is known for its predictability and reliability.
“On the one hand, this is very satisfying. On the other hand, of course, there is also a huge responsibility we have to live.”
Describing himself as an American “great friend” and a “confident Atlanticist,” von der Reyen argued that the long-standing bond between both sides of the Atlantic is still unharmed. The Annexist Threat And then a fierce pivot towards Russia. All of that alienates Washington’s traditional allies.
Asked if America was a friend, former friend or partner, the committee chief eschewed “this kind of classification” and admitted that the relationship was “complicated.”
Von Der Leyen did not explicitly criticize Trump – in fact, his name was only mentioned by journalists – but he proposed the country’s denial that Trump was trying to build through an executive order raft.
“Europe is still a peace project. No brothers or oligarchs have made rules. They will not invade or punish their neighbors. On the contrary, there are 12 countries on the waiting list to become members of the European Union. That’s about 150 million.”
“In Europe, children can go to a good school even if they are wealthy parents. We have low CO2 emissions and high life expectancy. Our universities allow controversial debate.
Eyes on big technology
Regarding ongoing negotiations with the White House, the committee chair confirmed that both American manufactured goods and digital services could target retaliation if consultations did not provide a solution. Brussels wants a 90-day suspension introduced by Trump. round trip According to Von Der Leyen, drastic tariffs will be eliminated or a compromise that will be significantly reduced.
But the risk of causing the Trump administration’s rage after the valuable services offered by Silicon Valley has repeatedly and loudly complained about the regulations the EU has introduced in recent years to curb the power of big technology.
The committee is believed to be in the final stages of digital market law-based probes. Executives claim the probe It’s completely individual From trade negotiations, the coincidence of both truck eras laid the foundation for the possibility of an explosive clash.
“We have a clear position and Americans do the same. That’s the essence of negotiation. There’s nothing agreed until everything is agreed. And I think we have the right to present every aspect of the situation, whether we’re an industrial item or a digital goods,” Von Der Leyen said.
“For them (large tech companies), Europe is a very attractive and rich market. Compared to other parts of the world, there are 450 million people who have high standards and free time. This means that digital services have a huge turnover and enormous profits here in Europe.
Beijing to Moscow
While Europe faces a punitive 20% “mutual tariffs”, China has been slapped at a whopping 145% rate, prompting full trade with Beijing. Because tariffs are so high, both markets are effectively shut down from each other, fearing that China will significantly re-supervise low-cost exports to Europe in search of alternative markets.
Von der Reyen said the committee will remain “very vigilant” to ensure the floods do not come to fruition. However, when asked if Europe should “trust China,” she did not argue. Growing speculation of reconciliation.
“In principle, when market access conditions become more difficult for large trading partners like the US, it is clear that we are looking for new trading partners that will make our company easier to access new markets,” she replied.
During her first mission, Von Der Leyen, who promoted a “risk removal” strategy to deal with China, has spoken in recent weeks in place of “trade-oriented” foreign policy that could soften her stance and lead to “constructive” involvement with countries like China that don’t necessarily share the core values of the bloc.
Still, the “no-limit” partnership between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to be a formidable obstacle in either snow melt. In the interview, von der Leyen warned that Putin’s “imperialist ambitions” could dare to see him attack NATO or EU member states in the future. Several intelligence agencies estimate that the Kremlin is ready for such an attack by 2030.
As Trump does not intend to approve further military or financial aid to Ukraine, Europe is rushing to pick up the tabs and fill the gaps, even if its capabilities cannot match American power. In parallel, Western allies set a “A joyous union” Provide security assurances to Kyiv and protect potential peace agreements.
“The country has bravely defended itself with the help of friends,” von der Leyen said when asked whether Europe could support Ukraine itself. “And from the beginning, it was very important that we demonstrate our ability to stay, as Putin’s calculations meant that support for Ukraine would fall apart, because in fact the opposition happened.”
