At Davos, EU vows pragmatism with Trump

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Davos: European Union chief Ursula van der Leyen announced on Tuesday that Europe is open to talks with US President Donald Trump but will seek to improve relations with blockchain and other countries as global competition increases. has been

Van der Leyen took a conciliatory tone in an address to the annual meeting of global elites in Davos, Switzerland, insisting that the US remains a key partner. He said the EU’s “first priority would be to engage as soon as possible, discuss common interests and be ready to engage with Trump”.

“We will be pragmatic, but we will always stick to our principles. To protect our interests and uphold our values,” he said. Trump returned to the White House on Monday, bringing with him fears that he would follow through on promises to impose heavy tariffs on China and US allies, including Canada and the European Union. After his inauguration, Trump said he could impose 25 percent tariffs on Canada and Mexico starting February 1.

He also announced America’s withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, which the European Commission president defended as “the best hope for all humanity” and vowed that “Europe will continue.” “

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang – who is also the most powerful member of the ruling Chinese Communist Party – will speak shortly after Van der Leyen. The EU chief reiterated his commitment to free trade during his speech, pointing to recent agreements with Switzerland, the Latin American bloc Mercosur and Mexico.

Van der Leyen also said that he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi want to “upgrade” their partnership. He stressed that Europe should “engage constructively with China — to find a solution in our mutual interest” despite growing trade tensions between the two.

“2025 marks 50 years of our Union’s diplomatic relations with China. I see this as an opportunity to connect and deepen our relationship with China, and where possible, even our trade and investment. To expand the working relationship,” he said.

China, Ukraine

China is taking a cautious approach to Trump.

After Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone with Trump on Friday, he said he hoped for a “good start” to relations with the new administration.

Although Trump has said he would impose massive trade sanctions against China, he has also indicated he wants to improve relations — and even Chinese-owned social media — on national security grounds. The platform also took steps to roll back the US ban on TikTok.

Ukraine is also keeping a close eye on what Trump’s second term will entail. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to ask world leaders and company executives to maintain — and even increase — their support for his country’s fight against Russia. Zelensky said on Monday that he hoped Trump would help achieve a “just peace”.

European ‘struggle’

Embattled German Chancellor Olaf Schulz will also address the forum, likely his last as leader before elections next month. Also speaking on Tuesday will be conservative leader Frederik Merz, who is the favorite to succeed him as chancellor.

According to a survey conducted last week by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), Europeans are the most worried about Trump’s return, while countries from Brazil to China and India to Turkey believe he is their country. And it will be good for world peace.

The report, which surveyed more than 28,500 people in 24 countries, serves as a warning to European leaders to tread carefully. “Europeans will struggle to find internal unity or global power to lead an outright resistance to the new administration,” the authors of the ECFR report said.

‘Better understand’ Trump

Middle East conflicts will also be high on the agenda as Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani will address separate sessions during the first full day of the forum.

After a fragile ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, the WEF will host a debate on how to improve aid delivery to the Palestinian territory of Gaza and how to start reconstruction and rehabilitation after heavy bombardment. .

Despite suggestions that Trump’s return would cast a shadow over the forum that began on his inauguration day in Washington, WEF President Borge Brande said. The President has taken a new interest in this gathering.

“It has increased interest in Davos because people feel they need to come together to better understand what’s going on in its path,” Brende told AFP in an interview. “