EU must remain united against US economic threats: Spain

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News websites
Today 12:06

Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo stresses the need for a united Europe against threats made by the US regarding tariffs on EU goods.

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European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni, left, speaks with Managing Director of the European Stability Mechanism Pierre Gramegna, right, and Spain's Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo in Brussels, on Monday, January 15, 2024. (AP)

Spanish Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo emphasized on Monday that the European Union must maintain unity in addressing threats from US President Donald Trump to impose tariffs on its goods.

Speaking to Spanish radio RNE, Cuerpo stated that while the EU supports open trade and a globalized market, it should not be "naive" and must safeguard its businesses, ensuring they can compete on equal footing with international competitors.

This comes amid a wave of US-imposed tariffs on China, Mexico, and Canada, as well as policies that include his attempt at acquiring Greenland from Denmark and Europe.

In this context, a Financial Times report last week revealed that the EU and NATO agreed to remain silent on Greenland following a request from Denmark, which urged its allies not to respond to Donald Trump’s threats to acquire the Arctic island.

As mentioned in the report, Copenhagen's approach of sidestepping public confrontation with Trump—closely coordinated with NATO and the EU, according to four officials—highlights the challenge faced by US allies in navigating the US president's combative diplomatic tactics.

It is worth mentioning that Trump engaged in a tense 45-minute phone call with Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen last week, plunging Copenhagen into what officials described as "crisis mode." He also threatened to impose tariffs on Denmark and did not rule out the possibility of seizing Greenland by force.

Trump reaffirmed over the weekend that he "will get" Greenland, while ridiculing Copenhagen’s defense capabilities, sarcastically referring to their reliance on "dog sleighs" to protect the island, which houses the largest US military presence in the Arctic.