EU leaders seek calm ahead of Trump's crucial Hague visit
The governments of EU countries are appealing to the European Commission to postpone any decisions regarding the USA until June, including the imposition of retaliatory tariffs, in order to avoid a conflict with US President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in The Hague, reported the "Financial Times" on Thursday.
Diplomats and officials informed the British newspaper that the EU governments are urging the European Commission to avoid antagonising the White House in the lead-up to the Alliance summit in The Hague, scheduled for 24th and 25th June.
The actions are to include avoiding public discussions on American trade policy and refraining from criticising the US approach to Ukraine or American statements regarding the annexation of Greenland.
According to the "FT", European leaders also discussed with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte how to placate the US president during the summit, and called on Rutte to limit the June meeting's agenda to the bare essentials.
Uncertainty before the meeting
A high-ranking EU official, quoted by the newspaper, noted that there is significant nervousness ahead of the meeting in The Hague.
He emphasized that the prevailing approach is to do everything possible to bring Trump to the meeting, tell him what he wants to hear, and ensure he leaves without any major incident.
According to the newspaper, many European leaders fear a repeat of the 2018 NATO summit, when Trump took control of the second day of talks and threatened to withdraw the USA from the Alliance.
The EU and NATO are separate organisations, but 23 European countries belong to both. Furthermore, Rutte maintains close professional relations with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the "FT" noted.
