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EU to ditch US partnership: Tusk says Europe must fly SOLO in shock threat to Trump
[Express] DONALD TUSK has sent a jaw-dropping threat to US President Donald Trump, decrying the Americans lack of reliability in the face of a number of threats to global security and prosperity. The European Council President kicked off the latest European summit, held in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, telling reporters Mr Trump had become a far from useful ally who acts with "capricious assertiveness".
| I quite agree that he is certainly not useful to EU functionaries in the way that his predecessor was. |
Washington and Brussels have been at loggerheads over a number of issues since Mr Trump was inaugurated in January 2017, most recently a trade war of aluminium and steel tariffs and the Iran nuclear deal.
Speaking to reporters in Sofia, Mr Tusk said the US President had "made us realise that if you need a helping hand, you all find one at the end of your arm".
The Council President urged Europe to ditch its American partnership and go alone as the EU faces up to global challenges because of Mr Trumps unreliability.Mr Tusk said: "Besides traditional political challenges, such as the rise of China or the aggressive stance of Russia, we are witnessing today a new phenomenon: the capricious assertiveness of the American administration.
| Golly. I don’t think the European Council president likes an American president with ideas of his own. So many syllables! |
"Looking at the latest decisions of President Trump, someone could even think: with friends like that, who needs enemies?
| Someone might, indeed. But is it wise, let alone diplomatic, to say so where reporters moght hear? |
"But frankly speaking, Europe should be grateful for President Trump because thanks to him we have got rid of all illusions.
"He has made us realise that if you need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of your arm."He added: "Europe must do everything in its power to protect, in spit of todays mood, the transatlantic bond, but at the same time we must be prepared for those scenarios where we have to act on our own.
"We have enough potential to rise to the challenge,
. but what we need is more political unity and determination."
| I quite agree. Good luck getting the Eastern European members on board. |
European leaders will gather in Sofia to mainly discuss the EU’s commitment towards enlargement talks focused around Western Balkan regions, but the US President’s actions have seemingly hijacked the agenda.The bloc’s leaders will hope to present a united front against Mr Trump in response to his decision on the Iran nuclear deal and trade tariffs.
Theresa May will travel to the Bulgarian capital where she will join a working dinner with her fellow European leaders, including European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker.
There is likely to be little or no Brexit discussions as the British Prime Minster alongside Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron will "present their assessment of the situation" surrounding the Iran nuclear deal, according to Mr Tusk.
| The reimposition of American sanctions is a bit of a pink elephant in the room, I fear. |
Posted by: 746 2018-05-17 |
