USA – Europe: Political Debut of J. D. Vance
Tariffs and energy were the focus of talks in Paris between US Vice President J. D. Vance and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen. Ukraine was discussed “in passing”
US Vice President J.D. Vance and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (pictured) met Tuesday night in Paris to discuss the current situation and prospects for political, economic, and trade relations between Washington and Brussels. The conversation took place on the sidelines of the summit on artificial intelligence organized by French President Emmanuel Macron.
Beyond the diplomatic tone and smiles for photographers, the meeting did not mark any new developments on the issue of the 25-percent duties imposed by US President Donald Trump’s executive order on steel and aluminum. The European Commission expressed concern about the Trump administration’s divide-and-conquer policy, fearing that “through bilateral agreements, the president will differentiate his tariffs according to the European interlocutor, leading to divisions among member states.”
During the dialogue, von der Leyen tried to raise the issue of Ukraine, emphasizing the EU’s readiness to continue its “unwavering support for Ukraine,” but tough guy Vance expressed his intention to prioritize “areas of economic interest, including energy,” in the talks.
In a bid to avert Trump’s threat to impose additional prohibitive duties on cars, pharmaceuticals, and computer chips exported from Europe to the USA, von der Leyen – with a pale face – finally called for the importance of “keeping the channels of dialog open” with Washington.