French Prime Minister François Bayrou denounced the European Union’s newly signed trade deal with the United States, blasting the agreement as an act of “submission” and warning that it signaled a loss of European sovereignty.
President Donald Trump has struck a historic trade deal with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, drawing both praise and fury across the European continent. The agreement, which promises $750 billion in EU energy purchases, up to hundreds of billions in U.S. military hardware, and $600 billion in EU investment in American businesses, comes at the cost of a 15% baseline tariff on European imports to the United States.
U.S. President Donald Trump landed at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on Friday evening to begin a four-day visit to Scotland. Speaking to reporters before heading to his Turnberry golf resort, Trump warned that Europe is destroying itself through mass immigration and wind energy policies.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Beijing on Thursday, strongly urging the European Union to avoid diversifying supply chains away from China. In remarks carried by the state-controlled Xinhua agency, Xi insisted Europe should not “build walls or barriers” to shield itself from Chinese dominance, warning that decoupling would only lead to “self-isolation.”
Israel’s foreign minister made headlines this week by attending a high-level meeting with Syrian and Lebanese officials—a rare occurrence signaling shifting regional dynamics.
President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose 30% tariffs on all imports from the European Union and Mexico, intensifying his administration’s push for fair trade and stronger border enforcement. The new tariffs are set to take effect August 1 and follow a wave of trade actions targeting America’s largest trading partners.
The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, credited President Donald Trump’s “tough love” for driving Europe to boost its defense spending. Speaking at the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore on Saturday, Kallas acknowledged Trump’s pressure on NATO countries to meet their commitments, saying, “It’s love nonetheless, so it’s better than no love.”
