March 13 (Reuters) - European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the U.S. wants to "divide Europe" and doesn't "like the European Union" in an interview published by the Financial Times on
EU's Kaja Kallas: US Aims to Divide Europe Amid Trade and Defense Tensions
Transatlantic Relations and European Unity Under Strain
March 13 (Reuters) - European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the U.S. wants to "divide Europe" and doesn't "like the European Union" in an interview published by the Financial Times on Friday, after more than a year of turmoil in transatlantic relations.
Kaja Kallas on US Intentions Toward Europe
"What I think is actually important for everybody to understand is that the U.S. has been very clear that they want to divide Europe. They don't like the European Union," Kallas told the FT.
US Tariffs and Trade Investigations
Trump Administration's Actions
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly targeted the European Union in his second term, imposing tariffs on member countries and others and talking about annexing Greenland - a move that could effectively end the NATO alliance.
Recent Trade Investigations
This week, Trump's administration launched trade investigations into the EU and other countries, including China, India, Japan, South Korea and Mexico, over what it said were unfair trade practices. Under the investigation, the countries could face new tariffs by this summer, after the U.S. Supreme Court tore down much of Trump's tariff program last month.
European Response and Calls for Unity
Kallas on EU Strategy
Kallas said the United States' approach to the EU echoed tactics used by the bloc's adversaries, according to the FT.
Importance of Collective Action
EU countries should not be looking to deal with Trump bilaterally, she said, and instead should deal with him together, "because we are equal powers when we are together," the FT reported.
Defense Industry and Transatlantic Dependencies
Current Reliance on US Defense
On defence, however, Kallas said the bloc needed "to buy from America because we don't have the assets or the possibilities or the capabilities that we need," adding that Europe needed to invest in its own defence industry.
Future of European Defense Investments
(Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru; Editing by Himani Sarkar and Tom Hogue)
