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European leaders breathed a collective sigh of relief on Monday as Donald Trump focused his fire elsewhere during his inaugural address.
Although the new US President promised to impose “tariffs and taxes on foreign countries to enrich our citizens” and declared that the United States would Leaving the Paris Agreement Regarding reducing carbon emissions, which is the cornerstone of EU policy, he stopped short of defining specific measures.
European leaders chose to ignore any potential differences with Washington, with many sending congratulations to the leader of the country that for 80 years was vital to Europe's security and prosperity.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU Council President Antonio Costa congratulated Trump in a letter Identical message He posted on X, sending him “best wishes.”
“The European Union looks forward to working closely with you to address global challenges,” von der Leyen and Costa wrote.
Best wishes President @RealDonaldTrump For your term as the 47th President of the United States.
The European Union looks forward to working closely with you to address global challenges.
Together, our societies can achieve greater prosperity and enhance their shared security.
This is it…
– Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 20, 2025
Trump's presidency has divided European politicians, with some right-wing groups looking to his domestic policies, including his pledge to crack down on illegal immigrants, as blueprints for Europe.
Giorgia Meloni, the right-wing Italian prime minister, was the only leader from the bloc invited to the inauguration, as senior EU officials such as von der Leyen have not yet held meetings with the new president.
Meloni positions herself as an interlocutor with Trump On behalf of the European Union, Write on XHe added: “Italy will always be committed to strengthening dialogue between the United States and Europe, as it is an essential pillar for the stability and growth of our societies.”
The inauguration ceremony was also attended by a number of far-right party leaders, including those from Belgium, Germany, Spain and France.
They want Trump to weaken Brussels, allow national capitals greater control, reverse policies to cut carbon emissions and monitor online speech.
Viktor Orban, Hungary's far-right prime minister, said Trump's return would boost a revival of the nationalist right across the bloc. “With this, I begin the second phase of the attack aimed at occupying Brussels,” he said on Monday.
Other politicians who sought to join forces with the new US president included Polish President Andrzej Duda, who told reporters before leaving for the World Economic Forum in Davos: “I have no doubt about my good relations with President Donald Trump and I have no doubt about that.” To stand in the midst of the (Washington) crowd to demonstrate these good relations.”
Meanwhile, in Brussels, EU Economic Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis reminded the new US president that “the European Union and the United States have the largest trade and investment relationship in the world. There is a lot at stake here economically.”
He warned that if tariffs were imposed, the EU was ready to respond with its own measures, as it did during the previous Trump presidency. “If there is a need to defend Europe's economic interests, we are ready to do so,” Dombrovskis said.
Trump also told Europe that it must pay more for its defense, and suggested raising NATO contributions to 5 percent of GDP. Many coalition members remain below the current target of 2 percent.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte pledged on Monday that the alliance will increase military spending during the new president's term. “With President Trump back in office, we will work to increase defense spending and production,” Rutte said. Written on X on monday.
However, the European Union is divided on how to finance this increase.
Guy Verhofstadt, former Prime Minister of Belgium and Chairman of the pro-EU campaign group, European Movement International, Advertise on X The bloc is “completely unprepared for this brutal new world.”
“Welcome to a new era of oligarchy in the United States, where billionaire members of Mar-a-Lago decide US policy. And guess what? Protecting the European Union or the living standards of Europeans is not on their list of priorities!”
EU business leaders are also preparing for the next four years. A survey by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham EU), which represents American companies with operations in the European Union, said that nine out of 10 companies expect trade and investment relations between the EU and the United States to deteriorate.
About two-thirds expected US policies to have a negative impact on their operations in the European Union.
Additional reporting by Rafael Minder in Warsaw
