"Trump Sends Shockwave Through Europe, Exposing Flaw in Brussels' Policy of Appeasement"
As US President Donald Trump unleashed a tariff storm on eight European countries that have supported Greenland's sale to the US, it became painfully clear that the EU's long-standing strategy of flattery and appeasement towards Washington has lost its potency.
Von der Leyen's latest attempt at charm
Just days ago, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the US as one of "our allies, our partners," but now her words ring hollow. Trump's weekend announcement that eight countries - including six EU member states and Norway - would face tariffs unless they sell Greenland to the US was a scathing rebuke to the notion of transatlantic cooperation.
Critics point to von der Leyen's ill-fated trade deal with Trump as exhibit A, which unfairly benefited the US. The EU agreed to eliminate tariffs on many US goods but accepted 15% duties on many products and 50% on steel. After years of touting the EU's economic heft, the terms of the EU-US trade deal signed at Trump's golf course last July were widely seen as a humiliating blow.
Von der Leyen defended the deal by claiming it provided "crucial stability in our relations with the US" at a time of global instability. However, this argument has been left in tatters as the Trump administration unites European parliamentarians across the ideological spectrum against the agreement.
A growing sense of frustration
European leaders are increasingly frustrated with Washington's behavior, particularly when it comes to Ukraine. The EU's diplomatic disadvantage is being exposed, with former Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš warning that Europe needs US backing to defend itself in its war with Russia.
However, Trump may have pushed the EU too far. Acquiescing to a forced sale of Greenland to the US would send a disastrous signal about the EU's commitment to Ukraine and its sovereignty.
A new approach?
As European leaders grapple with the fallout from Trump's latest move, there are growing calls to use the EU's powerful anti-coercion instrument against the US. This regulation, which was originally conceived as a response to Chinese economic pressure, would allow the EU to impose sweeping restrictions on US goods and services.
However, using this instrument is neither quick nor simple. The commission promises "expeditiousness," but agreeing on sanctions could take around a year. Punitive measures require agreement of at least 55% of EU member states representing 65% of the population.
As the transatlantic relationship goes through epoch-defining changes, the next few weeks will reveal whether this time is different for the EU and its approach to dealing with Trump's increasingly erratic behavior.
As US President Donald Trump unleashed a tariff storm on eight European countries that have supported Greenland's sale to the US, it became painfully clear that the EU's long-standing strategy of flattery and appeasement towards Washington has lost its potency.
Von der Leyen's latest attempt at charm
Just days ago, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the US as one of "our allies, our partners," but now her words ring hollow. Trump's weekend announcement that eight countries - including six EU member states and Norway - would face tariffs unless they sell Greenland to the US was a scathing rebuke to the notion of transatlantic cooperation.
Critics point to von der Leyen's ill-fated trade deal with Trump as exhibit A, which unfairly benefited the US. The EU agreed to eliminate tariffs on many US goods but accepted 15% duties on many products and 50% on steel. After years of touting the EU's economic heft, the terms of the EU-US trade deal signed at Trump's golf course last July were widely seen as a humiliating blow.
Von der Leyen defended the deal by claiming it provided "crucial stability in our relations with the US" at a time of global instability. However, this argument has been left in tatters as the Trump administration unites European parliamentarians across the ideological spectrum against the agreement.
A growing sense of frustration
European leaders are increasingly frustrated with Washington's behavior, particularly when it comes to Ukraine. The EU's diplomatic disadvantage is being exposed, with former Latvian Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš warning that Europe needs US backing to defend itself in its war with Russia.
However, Trump may have pushed the EU too far. Acquiescing to a forced sale of Greenland to the US would send a disastrous signal about the EU's commitment to Ukraine and its sovereignty.
A new approach?
As European leaders grapple with the fallout from Trump's latest move, there are growing calls to use the EU's powerful anti-coercion instrument against the US. This regulation, which was originally conceived as a response to Chinese economic pressure, would allow the EU to impose sweeping restrictions on US goods and services.
However, using this instrument is neither quick nor simple. The commission promises "expeditiousness," but agreeing on sanctions could take around a year. Punitive measures require agreement of at least 55% of EU member states representing 65% of the population.
As the transatlantic relationship goes through epoch-defining changes, the next few weeks will reveal whether this time is different for the EU and its approach to dealing with Trump's increasingly erratic behavior.
, they'd just roll over whenever US did something shady 
, like that time Clinton had his affair 
... anyway, now it seems like EU's strategy of "appeasement" is kinda backfiring 
. Trump's reaction to Greenland sale is a big deal, and I'm surprised more countries didn't speak up earlier 
... it's like they were all just trying to keep the peace at any cost 
. Maybe this EU needs to rethink its approach, maybe take a cue from old-school diplomacy 
... or maybe we're seeing some real change now? 
another major escalation in the us-eu trade war just hit... trump's new tariff threat on 8 european countries including 6 eu member states really exposes how weak brussels' policy of appeasement is gonna be a hard pill to swallow for europen leaders especially after that dodgy trade deal with trump last year... i mean, von der leyen's "allies and partners" thingy now sounds like a joke 
doing a sick trick on his scooter, I mean, that guy was like a real-life video game character! And then I started thinking about how much I love the Eiffel Tower, you know? It's so iconic and stuff. Have you ever been to Paris? I went there once with my friends for a weekend getaway and it was amazing 
, so trump is like literally going rogue on eu policy now? i mean, von der leyen tried her best to play nice but it looks like she got played big time 
... what's next, is the us gonna start selling us stuff for pennies and expecting us to be all smiles about it? 
. anywayz, gotta say i'm loving this new era of eu-brussels politics... keep 'em on their toes