A top European Union official has branded President Donald Trump selfish and capricious as EU leaders met to count the likely economic damage U.S. policies might inflict on the bloc and to try to rescue the Iran nuclear deal.
By LORNE COOK and RAF CASERT, Associated Press
SOFIA,
Bulgaria (AP) — A top European Union
official branded President Donald Trump
selfish and capricious Wednesday as EU
leaders met to count the likely economic
damage U.S. policies might inflict on the
bloc and to try to rescue the Iran nuclear
deal.
In a striking rhetorical assault on the
leader of Europe's biggest ally, EU Council
President Donald Tusk said, given Trump's
recent decisions, "someone could even think
'with friends like that, who needs
enemies?'"
Trump has bewildered the Europeans by
threatening to slap tariffs on EU steel and
aluminum exports and reneging on an
agreement to stop Iran from developing
nuclear weapons, which the EU believes is
vital to world security. Trump has also
broken with a key international principle of
Middle East peace efforts by moving the U.S.
embassy in Israel to Jerusalem from Tel
Aviv.
Tusk's remarks, made before he chaired a
meeting in Bulgaria of the 28 leaders whose
countries make up the world's biggest
trading bloc, underscored the widening gulf
in EU-U.S. relations.
Listing Europe's traditional challenges,
ranging from the expanding power of China to
the belligerence of Russia, Tusk said: "We
are witnessing today a new phenomenon, the
capricious assertiveness of the American
administration."
"Frankly speaking, Europe should be grateful
to President Trump because thanks to him we
have got rid of all illusions. He has made
us realize that if you need a helping hand,
you will find one at the end of your arm,"
Tusk said.
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At
dinner talks in the Bulgarian capital of
Sofia, EU leaders were briefed on possible
incentives to keep Tehran in the nuclear
agreement despite a key player like the U.S.
pulling out. Trump's decision means that
U.S. sanctions, held in check by a
presidential veto until now, could soon hit
Iran and European companies doing business
there.
The options being considered include new
credit lines for Iran, increased energy
cooperation and the use of EU laws to block
European companies from caving in to U.S.
sanctions.
The leaders also planned to discuss Trump's
steel and aluminum tariffs, which could be
imposed on the EU after June 1. Trump says
the tariffs are needed for national security
reasons. Europe's leaders, most of whom
govern nations that are NATO allies with the
U.S., say security concerns simply are an
excuse to break with the rules-based order
of the World Trade Organization.
"It is absurd to even think that the EU
could be a threat to the U.S. We need to
bring back reality in this discussion," Tusk
said.
Trump's decision to relocate the U.S.
embassy to the contested city of Jerusalem
will also be raised. Some EU leaders have
made a direct link between the move and the
killing of almost 60 Palestinians during
protests on the Gaza border.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel is
calling for an international investigation.
"It's a moment that sends a shiver down your
spine. Because there is a striking contrast
between, on the one hand, an inauguration in
great splendor, with smiles, and on the
other hand, the drama, and families today
that are in mourning with innocent children
who are the victims of this situation,"
Michel told state broadcaster RTBF.
"We knew that there was a great risk, that
this decision to move moving the embassy
would bring less security, bring tragedies,
and sadly we were right," he said.
But the EU is anything but united and
finding consensus will not be easy.
Some countries sent representatives to the
U.S. Jerusalem embassy opening on Monday and
the Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania
blocked an EU effort to publish a statement
critical of the U.S. move.
The leaders are expected to meet again
Friday with the heads of government from six
Balkans countries to assess their hopes of
eventually joining the EU.
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