BRUSSELS, Jan 21 (KUNA) -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen affirmed on Wednesday that the European Union prefers dialogue and cooperation with the United States in addressing escalating geopolitical challenges, but is ready to act "with unity, speed and determination" if unilateral measures are imposed that could harm its strategic interests, particularly with regard to Arctic security.
This came in a speech delivered by von der Leyen before the European Parliament's plenary session on the future of Europe amid growing geopolitical tensions and continuous threats to the rules-based international order.
Von der Leyen said that the world is witnessing "seismic and permanent" shifts in the international order, noting that the pace of change exceeds anything seen over the past decades. She added that Europe now lives in a world governed by "raw power balances," whether economic, military or technological.
Regarding relations with the United States, the Commission President stressed that Europe agrees with its American partners on the strategic assessment of Arctic security, and that both sides are working closely within the framework of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). She cited Finland's cooperation with the United States on icebreakers, as well as the military exercises recently led by Denmark to enhance the Alliance's readiness in the Arctic region.
She added, "We are allies, we work together, and we share the same vision for Arctic security. Therefore, the threat to impose additional tariffs for security reasons is completely wrong." Von der Leyen warned that sliding into a "dangerous spiral of escalation between allies would only strengthen their common adversaries," stressing that any tension between Europe and the United States would serve parties seeking to undermine international stability.
She explained that European leaders will discuss in the coming days the potential European response to these developments, saying, "Europe prefers dialogue and consensus-based solutions, but it is fully ready to act when necessary, in a spirit of unity, urgency and determination." In this context, she affirmed that Europe's future requires building greater strategic autonomy, not only in the economic field, but also in security, defence and technology, explaining that Europe needs to possess its own instruments of power in order to be able to influence its international environment rather than merely react to it.
She added that European independence does not mean distancing itself from allies, foremost among them the United States, but rather strengthening Europe's ability to partner from a "position of strength and balance," in a way that serves shared transatlantic security. (end) arn.hb