EU foreign policy chief says Trump's trade war only benefits from China – country
The EU's foreign policy chief said tariffs between Western countries only serve China's interests and called for higher defense spending to stop Russia.
“If the United States launches a trade war with Canada, Mexico or the EU, then the person who really benefits from it is China,” Kaja Kallas said in an interview with Canadian media on Thursday.
Former Estonian Prime Minister Kallas is responsible for overseeing the EU's shocking approach to the new geopolitical climate – the United States has suggested that the U.S. has expanded its commitment to defending NATO allies and pursues a trade war with Europe and Canada.
“We are trying to keep our heads cool,” Karas said.
“We are also ready to really defend our interests – but that’s our hope and we don’t have to deal with this because we have a lot of other issues.”
These issues include the first massive land war in Europe in decades, efforts to balance the budget tightening of books throughout the continent, and a surge in severe weather events due to climate change.
These threats have led Europe to seek help from Canada, thus helping a variety of supply chains from food to energy – regions covered by a free trade agreement that has been in effect since 2017.
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“We absolutely need to deepen our cooperation in these areas, especially in terms of economic security,” Karas said.
Europe is also looking for Canadian cooperation on military affairs.
Earlier this month, outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau traveled to London to hold a European security conference to maintain allies’ support for Ukraine’s defense.
Europeans are eager to watch reports of a possible ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, with some countries pledging to send troops and jets to maintain peace and prevent further Russian invasions.
Canada and the EU have been talking about security and defense partnerships for nearly a year.
The agreement may be similar to what Brussels signed with Japan and South Korea, covering joint naval exercises, or agreements reached with non-EU countries on underwater infrastructure.
Carras said the partnership with Canada will involve “important collaboration in the defense industry” and “investment for defense investments so that we can work together and prepare to help each other”.
She added that Europeans were not interested in establishing “parallel structures” to replicate the NATO military alliance.
“Canada is stronger, and NATO's stronger European allies are NATO's powerful,” Karas said.
Karas's motherland was once part of the Soviet Union and had a turbulent relationship with Russia for decades.
Canadians need to understand that Russia is their next-door neighbor in the Arctic, a region that is increasingly important in geopolitical importance due to its trade routes and key raw materials.
“Russia is not only a security to Europe, but also an existential threat to global security,” she said.
“Everything is in danger when we allow Russia to escape the land and attacks they have done against Ukraine.”
Carras said Europe and its peers need to spend more on defense. Many NATO countries, including Canada, have targeted defense spending of 2% of GDP.
Some NATO allies have discussed higher defense spending targets, at 2.5% or 3% of GDP. Karas noted that Russia's defense spending accounts for 9% of its GDP.
“If we don't invest enough in our defense, then they will want to use this military force again,” she said.
“The only thing that stops them is strength – whether we are strong enough to make them not test us.”
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
