Polish minister: Trump not additional EU trouble

Last Sunday, EU’s foreign ministers had a formal dinner with Trump at Brussels.

“Whatever the U.S. administration, it has always been known that Europe will have to step up its action on security and defense”, Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders told reporters.

“There is a need to strengthen our security profile, it’s what our citizens need”, Mogherini said.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who also did not attend the emergency meeting, said: “Let’s stop talking about disarray (after the Trump victory)”.

Foreign ministers on Monday will issue a statement on Iran, which will reiterate their strong support for the full implementation of the 2015 nuclear deal.

A day after agreeing a new defence plan aimed at making Europe less reliant on US help, EU governments increased the 2017 funding of the European Defence Agency, which helps countries develop aircraft and other assets, by 1.6 percent, in line with inflation and taking the modest budget to 31 million euros ($33 million).

Trump argued throughout the hustings in the presidential campaign that Europe is not paying its way within the alliance and has questioned why the United States pays so much into an organization he described in March as “obsolete”.

“The role of the Unites States with respect to peace and global security is vital, as is the role of the European Union”.

But the U.K.’s decision to leave the European Union and, now, the election of Mr. Trump have given fresh impetus for efforts to build what officials call Europe’s “strategic autonomy”, an ability to act independently of other major powers. “It’s clear that we have to spend more on defense, but there’s no way that the USA contribution can be replaced”.

The plan includes lifting “nuclear-related economic and financial sanctions and engaging with the private sector and economic operators, especially banks, to promote growth in trade and investment”. But Trump’s exact plans are vague, and renegotiating a deal Iran is already happy with would be hard.

The EU has imposed sanctions on Russian Federation over its annexation of Crimea and destabilizing role elsewhere in Ukraine.

Instead The split in Europe highlights the difficulties “European capitals face in coordinating a response to Mr Trump, who has questioned the USs commitments to North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and free trade and hinted at seeking a rapprochement with Russian president Vladimir Putin” much to the amusement of famous euroskeptic Nigel Farage who was the first foreign political leader to meet with Donald Trump at the Trump Tower over the weekend.

Merkel and Obama have enjoyed a close relationship over the years, and Obama seems to be counting on the German leader’s strength to help counter the isolationist tone voiced by Trump during the election campaign.

But on Sunday Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszczykowski said: “Regardless of whether we see Donald Trump as a person who is not an angel, he isn’t a child with special needs either”.

While Mr. Fallon shrugged off concerns about Mr. Trump’s presidency, others disagreed.

“I think we all need to wait and see what they come up with, but I think we should regard it as a moment of opportunity”, he added, AFP reported. European Union diplomats think that a change in the UK’s position may mean that the country will want to closely cooperate with Brussels on defense and military issues after Brexit becomes a reality.