EU leaders are trying to gain influence and strengthen their defense and security after Trump’s victory

The leaders of the European Union are calling for closer ties with the new US administration that Donald Trump will lead, but at the same time defending the importance of the bloc having more influence on the world stage, being less dependent and strengthening its own security and safety. defense.

EU Heads of State or Government stressed the need to continue this support upon their arrival at the Budapest summit Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression, because otherwise this would mean sending a message of ‘vulnerability’.

“We want to deepen our ties with the United States because we have much in common, but we also want to be more masters of our destiny, have more influence, strengthen our economic base and act in a way that makes us a respectful and respected partner. ”, said the President of the European Council, Charles Michel upon arrival at a summit of European leaders in Budapest.

In the same vein, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyensaid the EU must work together to meet the challenges of the present and the future. “The experience of recent years has been very clear to Europeans: when we have challenges, no Member State is able to tackle them on its own, but sticking together on the 27, like the European Union, gives us a lot power. This power gives us a lot of power. is our best asset,” the German emphasized.

This first day of the summit brings together the leaders of the European Union with those of twenty other countries on the continent that are also part of the so-called European Political Community (EPC).

The President of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, was not present at Thursday’s meeting to continue the management of DANA, nor was German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, due to the political crisis affecting his government.