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Europe
EU to ditch US partnership: Tusk says Europe must fly SOLO in shock threat to Trump
2018-05-17
[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".
That’s wisdom, that is.
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,
Absolutely.
. 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

#17  EU to ditch US partnership: Tusk says Europe must fly SOLO in shock threat to Trump

This out of the mouths of those who can't seem to resist the meager economic gains of trading with Iran?
Posted by: gorb   2018-05-17 23:30  

#16  New text from indignant EU:
"You didn't dump me! I dumped you!
I'll stand strong, all alone...
And I'm setting the tone
By not stalking Great Britain. Boo-hoo."
Posted by: Zenobia Floger6220   2018-05-17 23:17  

#15  I didn't know Merkel was a ventriloquist.
Posted by: charger   2018-05-17 16:29  

#14  How much do our military installations in Europe cost the US.
How much of the total costs does Europe pay.
The.next war will use EMP technology so:
1. Let’s pull our military out of Europe or...
2. Make Europe pay 60% of the costs.
Posted by: CC Reader   2018-05-17 15:04  

#13  Go a step further, EU! Demand that the United Nations move their HQ from New York City to Geneva!

That'll show 'em!!!
Posted by: Ptah   2018-05-17 12:44  

#12  After we wined and dined Macron, too.

I want Iran to name names.
Posted by: Clem Kadiddlehopper9000   2018-05-17 10:03  

#11  "Looking at the latest decisions of President Trump, someone could even think: with friends like that, who needs enemies? But frankly speaking, Europe should be grateful for President Trump because thanks to him we have got rid of all illusions." --Donald Tusk
How...quaint. How... supercilious Euro-Elitist snobbery in tone: "How DARE those colonials think they can dispute their betters! Harrumph, I say, Harrumph!"
Posted by: magpie   2018-05-17 09:52  

#10  Europe wakes and declares that now because of Trump they must do what the US has been saying they should do for decades.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2018-05-17 08:34  

#9   First step: Import more Muslims.

Just think of all the problems that could be solved by just moving all the Paleostinians from Israel's borders and giving them their own country carved out from between France and Germany.
Posted by: AlanC   2018-05-17 08:23  

#8  Tusk served as Polish prime minister from 2007-2014.

Cause relying upon Western Europeans for your defense didn't work out well the last time around, remember?
Posted by: P2kontheroad   2018-05-17 07:04  

#7  ...If we had any sense, somebody would leak a paper detailing how much it would cost to move our military units from Germany out to either the UK or Poland.

Then sit back and watch the fun.

Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski   2018-05-17 06:44  

#6  Remember that the EUSSR politburo only speak for the globalists not The Peoples of Europe.
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2018-05-17 04:28  

#5  Go ahead. We in Israel been forced to tolerate EUropean arrogance (because of your influence on USA) far too long.
Posted by: g(r)omgoru   2018-05-17 03:51  

#4  First step: Import more Muslims.
Posted by: gorb   2018-05-17 01:04  

#3  Good luck getting the Eastern European members on board.

Tusk served as Polish prime minister from 2007-2014.

This outburst is patently nuts.

Europeans have known full well that the Obama administration alone, not the US, ever committed itself to this agreement.

Also the agreement has never been in Europe's interest as it would have created an irrational, hostile, hyperaggressive nuclear power in its neighborhood.

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".

Unless you're suffering from Dr. Strangelove syndrome
 which Europe apparently does.
Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660   2018-05-17 00:44  

#2  Bahaha. Europeans are good at talking. Let's see him take action.

He won't. He knows Europe (1) has no capability to defend itself (2) has a really good deal going with America where they rip us off on trade every year to the tune of $150 billion and (3) if Europe didn't get this free money and free defense, it would have to cut its welfare state. So they're not going anywhere. They're just throwing a temper tantrum like a 3 year old.
Posted by: Herb McCoy   2018-05-17 00:42  

#1  This sounds like Mr. Tusk is one f those bribe takers that the Iranian official threatened to oppose unless Trump and his sanctions are stopped.
Posted by: Daniel   2018-05-17 00:34  

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