There are “no plans” for Ursula von der Leyen to attend the inauguration of Donald Trump, the European Fee has confirmed.
Ursula von der Leyen has not obtained an invite to attend the inauguration of Donald Trump because the forty seventh US president however she is looking for to determine “early contacts” with the brand new administration, the European Fee confirmed on Friday.
Von der Leyen, a staunch advocate of transatlantic relations, is presently recovering from extreme pneumonia in Hanover, Germany. Consequently, the Fee president has cancelled all her exterior engagements for the primary half of January.
She is working from house and has not but delegated any duties.
“There are not any plans to attend the inauguration,” Paula Pinho, the Fee’s chief spokesperson, mentioned on Friday.
“We shall be looking for early contacts with the upcoming administration. Whether or not that shall be earlier than the twentieth of January or simply after that, I can’t let you know for the second.”
Pinho didn’t specify what kind these “contacts” would take. Bloomberg beforehand reported concerning the Fee’s intention to arrange a gathering with Trump in Florida.
Von der Leyen has not spoken with Trump since they talked on the telephone in early November, just a few days after the US presidential election, the spokesperson famous.
The dialog, which von der Leyen had described as “glorious,” touched upon defence coverage, Russia’s battle on Ukraine, commerce and power.
The Fee chief later revealed she had broached the potential for growing EU imports of American LNG, which was seen as a proposal to keep away from the across-the-board tariffs that Trump has threatened to slap on overseas items.
Von der Leyen’s feedback made headlines and mirrored the bloc’s willingness to appease the Republican’s calls for to develop a useful relationship.
These hopes took a tumble this week after Trump refused to rule out utilizing army power to grab Greenland, the huge island that belongs to the Kingdon of Denmark. “I do not know if Denmark has any authorized proper to it, but when they do, they need to give it up as a result of we want it for nationwide safety,” he mentioned in an hour-long press convention.
His phrases had been rebuked by Greenland’s and Denmark’s prime ministers, in addition to by the French authorities. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz spoke of “uneasiness” and confused that “borders should not be moved by power.”
In contrast, the Fee reacted with excessive warning and refused to explicitly condemn Trump’s army threats towards the territorial integrity of a member state.
Greenland, not like Denmark, just isn’t part of the 27-country bloc however enjoys a particular standing as an abroad territory which incorporates entry to EU funds and freedom of motion for Greenlanders, who’re thought of EU residents.
It took two days for von der Leyen to publish a press release in response to Trump’s remarks, finished in coordination with European Council President António Costa.
“The EU will all the time defend our residents and the integrity of our democracies and freedoms,” she mentioned on social media.
“We look ahead to a optimistic engagement with the incoming US Administration, primarily based on our widespread values and shared pursuits. In a tough world, Europe and the US are stronger collectively.”
Trump’s return comes with huge stakes for Brussels and the complete bloc, notably with regards to army and monetary assist for Ukraine, which the billionaire has threatened to chop down. Trump’s much-repeated pledge to discover a speedy decision to the battle has stoked fears Ukraine could be compelled into painful territorial concessions and depart Europe extra susceptible to future Russian aggression.
Moreover, the president-elect has ramped up stress on NATO allies to drastically enhance their defence spending from 2% of GDP to five%, which not even the US meets.
The prospect of tariffs has additionally spooked EU capitals because it might irritate the bloc’s financial woes.
