She added that the use of sanctions, export controls and tariffs was likely to increase and that for Europe to sustain its growth in the next quarter of the century, it must shift gears.
But she also insisted that despite that challenging environment, “Europe is open for business” and constructive relations with other countries, including China and India.
“We are not in a race against each other, but we are in a race against time. … We need to seek cooperation with our like-minded longtime allies, but also with any country that we have shared interests with,” she said.
“While some in Europe may not like this new reality, we are ready to deal with it. Our values will not change. But to defend these values in this changing world, we must change the way we act, and look for opportunities wherever they arise,” she said.
In a clear response to Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, von der Leyen also said the deal “continues to be the best hope of all humanity.”
So Europe will stay the course, and keep working with all nations that want to protect nature and stop global warming,” she said.
Europe has entered a new era of harsh geostrategic competition and will have to work together to avoid a global race to the bottom.
She added that the use of sanctions, export controls and tariffs was likely to increase and that for Europe to sustain its growth in the next quarter of the century, it must shift gears.
But she also insisted that despite that challenging environment, “Europe is open for business” and constructive relations with other countries, including China and India.
“We are not in a race against each other, but we are in a race against time. … We need to seek cooperation with our like-minded longtime allies, but also with any country that we have shared interests with,” she said.
“While some in Europe may not like this new reality, we are ready to deal with it. Our values will not change. But to defend these values in this changing world, we must change the way we act, and look for opportunities wherever they arise,” she said.
In a clear response to Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, von der Leyen also said the deal “continues to be the best hope of all humanity.”
So Europe will stay the course, and keep working with all nations that want to protect nature and stop global warming,” she said.
reported earlier (9:10am), much to the despair of Danish diplomats, Trump talked about this issue again last night, saying “Greenland is a wonderful place,” and that he was sure that “Denmark will come along”.
But Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen had already told the then-incoming US president last week it was up to Greenland to decide its own future. Even the Danish king made a pointed reference to Greenland in his New Year’s speech.
Over the weekend, the country’s foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen was reported by the Danish media as warning that if Trump confirms his intentions after taking the office, “then we have the most serious foreign policy crisis we have had in Denmark in many, many generations.”
Oh, well.
Danish newspaper Politiken tried to look for positives in their morning newsletter today as it said that “no American troops have not moved in to occupy Nuuk – yet.”
But it is fair to say, they were not reassured at all, even as some Trump supporters urged their reporter in Washington to simply “sell Greenland and make money”.
If you missed it over the weekend, our Nordic correspondent Miranda Bryant went to the island and talked to its residents about what they make of all of this.
a post on Bluesky, Díaz wrote:
For months now, Elon Musk has been using X for political ends. It has stopped being a tool for communication, or a social network, and has become a propaganda mechanism that uses its algorithm to favour some ideas over others and, by doing so, affect public opinion.”
“Last night, the entire planet could see Elon Musk emulating the Nazi salute in the context of Donald Trump’s inauguration. It was a very stark image that has led me to make a decision I’ve been considering for months … From now on, I will not be using my [X] account.
Díaz’s announcement came hours after Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, urged Europe to resist a big tech “class” trying to influence western governments and public debate through its “absolute power over social media”.
On Monday, Sánchez told a conference on artificial intelligence: “Faced with this we have to fight back and we must put forward alternatives … Europe must stand up to this threat and defend democracy.”
Elsewhere in Spain, the media have noted that Trump yesterday incorrectly claimed that Spain is among the BRICS nations (chiefly Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa), and could face 100% US tariffs on its products.
Here are some of the key reactions to Trump from around Europe.
You will see a full range of emotions on display, from carefully picked diplomatic language, all the way to full ecstasy in the case of Hungary’s Viktor Orbán…
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy:
I congratulate President Trump and the American people on the inauguration of the 47th President of the United States. Today is a day of change and also a day of hope for the resolution of many problems, including global challenges.
President Trump is always decisive, and the peace through strength policy he announced provides an opportunity to strengthen American leadership and achieve a long-term and just peace, which is the top priority.
This century is being shaped right now, and we must all work together to ensure that it is a great and successful century for democracies, not those who want us to fail.
We wish you success, President Trump! We look forward to active and mutually beneficial cooperation. We are stronger together, and we can provide greater security, stability, and economic growth to the world and our two nations.
Italy’s prime minister Giorgia Meloni (who was the only European head of government actually present there and clearly enjoyed the party):
“I am certain that the friendship between our nations and the values that unite us will continue to strengthen the cooperation between Italy and the USA … Italy will always be committed to consolidating the dialogue between the United States and Europe, as an essential pillar for the stability and growth of our communities.”
Germany’s prime minister Olaf Scholz:
Today President Donald Trump takes office. Congratulations! The U.S. is our closest ally and the aim of our policy is always a good transatlantic relationship. The EU, with 27 members and more than 400 million people, is a strong union.”
France’s president Emmanuel Macron called on Europe Monday to “wake up” and spend more on defence in order to reduce its reliance on the United States for its security, AP reports.
“What will we do in Europe tomorrow if our American ally withdraws its warships from the Mediterranean? If they send their fighter jets from the Atlantic to the Pacific?” he asked.
And finally… Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán, speaking at a conference in Budapest:
“Only a few hours and even the sun will shine differently in Brussels. A new president in the U.S., a large faction of Patriots in Brussels, great enthusiasm. So the great attack can start. Hereby I launch the second phase of the offensive that aims to occupy Brussels.
There is a really unusual video accompanying his comments. You can watch it here, if you really, really want to, but be warned that it ends on a really weird shot of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen ringing a reception bell. You have been warned.
If you need more reactions, here’s a round up from our correspondents:
Donald Trump was sworn in as its 47th president, promising a blitz of executive orders, a radical shake-up of the global order and a “golden age of America”.
Read it here:
… and here are some of the key quotes from Trump on topics of particular importance to Europe:
On Ukraine and Russia: “He [Russia’s Vladimir Putin] should make a deal. I think he’s destroying Russia by not making a deal. … I think Russia’s going to be in big trouble. … I got along with him great, I would hope he wants to make a deal.”
“He can’t be thrilled he’s not doing so well. I mean, he’s grinding it out, but most people thought that war would have been over in about one week, and now you’re into three years, right?”
On the Paris climate agreement: “I’m immediately withdrawing from the unfair, one-sided Paris Climate Accord rip-off. … The United States will not sabotage our own industries while China pollutes with impunity.”
Under the accord’s rules, the United States will formally exit in one year.
On Greenland: “Greenland is a wonderful place. We need it for international security. I’m sure that Denmark will come along. It’s costing them a lot of money to maintain it, to keep it. The people of Greenland are not happy with Denmark, as you know. I think they are happy with us. … We will see what happens. It’s necessary, not for us, but for international security. You have Russian boats, China boats all over the place, warships. They can’t maintain it.”
Giorgia Meloni.)
But one well-wisher inadvertently said the quiet part out loud.
Szymon Hołownia, the speaker of the Polish parliament, made some effort to write a social media post in English: “Welcome President Trump. We are ready to cooperate, discuss and do business together.”
But then, in Polish, he wearily added: “And may God watch over us all.”
Welcome to our live coverage of European politics. It’s Jakub Krupa here.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com. I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
