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(Bloomberg) — Nearly 50 European leaders will gather in Armenia Monday to discuss pressing issues for the continent, such as democratic resilience and energy security. But the meeting will likely be overshadowed by recent comments by Donald Trump that threaten to send transatlantic relations to a new low.
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Over the weekend, the American president said he would cut thousands of US troops stationed in Germany after accusing European countries of ignoring his requests for help in the war with Iran and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
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Trump also vowed to raise tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union to 25%, claiming that the bloc had failed to fully comply with a trade agreement negotiated with the US.
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Many European leaders have begun reassessing relations with Trump, who has repeatedly called into question NATO, bolstered European far-right forces and threatened to seize Greenland, a territory of Denmark. Leaders meeting at the European Political Community held in Armenia Monday will likely begin strategizing a way forward.
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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Saturday the transatlantic NATO alliance risks disintegrating and called on all members to reverse “this disastrous trend.”
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Here’s what you need to know as the leaders meet:
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Will the Leaders Rally Behind a Trump Strategy?
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There will be ample opportunity this week for the EU and its allies to clarify how they plan to deal with the latest conflicts. Aside from the EPC, EU and euro-area finance ministers will meet in Brussels Monday and Tuesday, when the trade situation will likely come up. Trade ministers from the Group of Seven countries are also scheduled to meet this week in France.
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While the EPC won’t take any EU policy decisions, it will be the first opportunity to see how leaders plan to navigate the trade and security issues.
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How Will Europeans React?
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Many EU leaders have been taking a firmer stance toward the US. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been the most outspoken critic of Trump, calling the Iran war illegal and barring the use of Spain’s airspace and the two US bases on its territory for operations supporting the strikes on Iran.
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently said the US is being “humiliated” by Iranian leaders and that he didn’t see “what strategic exit the Americans are now choosing.”
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But the EU will likely refrain from taking any action until Trump’s threats — on trade and removing troops — actually become policy. And there’s no guarantee that will happen. Trump’s previous attempt to remove forces from Germany in 2020 was blocked by legislation, and the latest order is likely to face similar opposition in Congress.
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And while Trump has threatened to impose many restrictive trade measures on other countries, very few of those threats actually become policy.
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