Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden arrived at the informal EU summit, asserting: “The answer to tariffs is to reply with same actions.” His remark came during a tense gathering in Brussels on Monday, where talks aimed at bolstering Europe’s military capabilities were overshadowed by US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats.
Trump’s tariff threats against Europe, following his recent imposition of tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, disrupted the agenda as the EU leaders sought to increase military spending in the face of Russian aggression and pressure from the new American president. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer were also invited to the informal gathering.
Initially designed to address Europe’s defence strategy nearly three years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the summit became a platform for EU leaders to prepare for possible US retaliation. Frieden expressed concerns over tariffs, emphasising that they harm trade and both the US and its trade partners. Frieden added that tariffs were not formally discussed during Monday’s session.
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed this sentiment, saying that Europe must react decisively to trade attacks to maintain respect as a global power. Meanwhile, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged caution, stressing the need to avoid a “useless and stupid” trade war.
In response to Trump’s threats, the EU had warned on Sunday that it would respond “firmly” to any tariff imposition. During the working lunch with NATO’s chief, the leaders also focused on the urgent need to boost defence budgets.
Since Russia’s invasion, European countries have ramped up military spending but admit they are not arming fast enough to counter potential future threats from Vladimir Putin.
Trump’s return to the White House has intensified the debate, with the president demanding that European nations increase military spending to at least 5% of their GDP. This target is seen as unrealistic by many, including Luxembourg’s Frieden.
Trump has also made sweeping threats on various fronts, including against Denmark over Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who recently toured European capitals, reaffirmed her country’s stance: “Greenland is not for sale.”
While there is broad agreement on the need to boost defence spending, the path forward remains unclear. The EU estimates it will need an additional 500 billion euros over the next decade. Macron has urged European countries to prioritise funding their own defence industry, stressing that Europe’s independence will be strengthened by favouring European-made military purchases.
