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BUDAPEST Nov. 7 (from special envoy Laura García Martínez) –
European leaders have advocated this Tuesday to take care of the dialogue with the next president of the United States, Donald Trump, despite strategic differences in order to “strengthen” transatlantic ties; a relationship that they warn must be addressed without falling into naivety and with a European Union reinforced by its own agenda in key areas such as security, defense and competitiveness.
The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, has been convinced that the United States and the EU have “a lot in common” despite the differences and has opted to “deepen” the relationship with a bloc of 27 by exercising its role as a partner. respectful and respectable”, capable of engaging “rationally” with Washington.
“Do we want to read the history written by others? The wars launched by Vladimir Putin, the American elections, the decisions of the Chinese in technological or commercial terms, or do we want to be the ones who write history?” asked the President of France , Emmanuel Macron, to the almost fifty leaders of the continent gathered at the Summit of the European Political Community (EPC) being held at the Puskas Arena in Budapest.
In his opening speech, the French president warned his colleagues that his role is not to discuss whether Donald Trump’s victory in the United States elections is a “good or bad” choice, because it is a “legitimate” decision that corresponds to the Americans; but they must decide whether they are “prepared to defend the interests of Europeans”.
“It must be our priority, but it must not be done from a naive ‘transatlanticism’ or from questioning our alliances or from a short-sighted nationalism that would not allow us to win the challenge against China or the United States,” he stressed.
The Hungarian president, Viktor Orbán, who is hosting this Tuesday in Budapest and who until now has been the closest to Trump in the EU, has, however, avoided referring to the elections in the United States during his opening speech to the rest of leaders.
The Prime Minister of Greece, the conservative Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has congratulated Trump on his “emphatic election” and expressed his hope that transatlantic relations will continue “strongly” but aware that dialogue cannot be approached with a weakened EU.
“We must wake up from geopolitical naivety and assume that we need to commit additional resources to address essential issues such as competitiveness, European defense and I hope that we achieve it with the seriousness and urgency that these times demand,” he concluded.
The Finnish Prime Minister, Petteri Orpo, has advocated sending a “clear message” to the new Trump Administration that will be formed at the end of January regarding the need to maintain unequivocal support for Ukraine “as long as necessary” and that this support is established in a “clear and strong” manner. He also added that it is time for Europe to “do more for its own defense and strengthen its own security.”
The head of the Community Executive, Ursula von der Leyen, in turn, has reiterated the congratulations that she already expressed on Monday after the first results in the United States, and has hoped to be able to work with the new president to “strengthen transatlantic ties.” .
The president of Lithuania, Gitanas Nauseda, has also opted for a strong relationship with the United States and recalled that it will not be Trump’s first term, so the EU already has experience. He has also defended that under the first Trump Administration the allies, including the United States, made decisions “that made NATO stronger” and has trusted that Washington and kyiv can share a “constructive language” to ensure support for Ukraine against Russia.
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