International

The European Union wants dialogue with the United States, but will respond firmly to “unjust” attacks

showed on Monday its willingness to a “robust” and “constructive” dialogue with the United States, but assured that it is prepared to “respond firmly” to any unjust or arbitrary attack.

“The EU is prepared for a solid but constructive dialogue with the United States, although we also recognize the possible challenges in the relationship with the US. USA and we are prepared so that, when we are attacked unfairly or arbitrarily, the EU will respond firmly,” said the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, at the end of an informal meeting of community leaders.

The Twenty-Seven met in Brussels to mainly address how to build a more autonomous defense policy and strengthen their military industrial base with more cooperation, but they spent much of the day talking about transatlantic relations.

The meeting took place after the President of the United States US, Donald Trump, decided to impose tariffs of 25% on Canada and Mexico and 10% on China, and to ensure that he would also apply taxes on the European Union.

Von der Leyen said at a press conference at the end of the meeting that the community leaders spoke, “first of all,” of the transatlantic partnership, which “remains our most important relationship” and is “fundamental to promote peace, security and prosperity.”

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“And with the backdrop that we know there is a lot at stake, we have discussed ways to strengthen very pragmatic cooperation with the United States,” he commented, while recognizing that “it is evident that there are new challenges and growing uncertainties.”

German policy alluded to the fact that “this weekend we have witnessed the imposition of very high tariffs on Canada and Mexico,” and in that context he said that “those tariffs raise business costs, harm workers and consumers, create unnecessary economic disruptions and drive inflation.”

“We don’t see anything good coming out of all this, so we give priority to productive debates and commit early,” Von der Leyen said.

The president of the Commission also assured that the EU “stays firm in its multilateral commitments,” whether it is its development aid or our climate objectives, and assured that they are “fully aware that we have our own challenges to master.”

“We have to do our homework. So today it has also become very clear that we will focus on the competitiveness of the European Union,” as the Commission has exposed in its recently presented strategy known as the “Buss of Competitiveness”.

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For his part, the President of the European Council, António Costa, assured that the United States “is our friend, our ally and our partner.”

“It is a relationship that has deep roots and will last over time; problems and differences of opinion can also arise between friends,” he said.

When those differences emerge, he said, he advocated “approaching them to talk and find solutions,” but “defending our values, maintaining our principles and without compromising our own interests.”

“Those universal values and principles are at the heart of the international order that we have built since World War II, together with the United States of America, national sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders,” he concluded.

In addition, Von der Leyen announced on Monday to community leaders that she will study the possibility of relaxing the rules of the European Union (EU) on the control of public deficit and debt to allow an increase in defense spending.

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“If you look at national budgets, they are constrained, until now through the new rules of the stability and growth pact. For extraordinary times, it is possible to have extraordinary measures also in the stability and growth pact, and I think we live in extraordinary times,” Von der Leyen said at the end of an informal summit of EU leaders.

International

Two killed in shooting at restaurant near Frankfurt Airport

Two people were shot dead early Tuesday at a restaurant in Raunheim, near Frankfurt Airport, according to local police.

Preliminary findings indicate that an armed individual entered the establishment at around 03:45 local time (02:45 GMT) and opened fire on the victims, who died at the scene from their injuries.

The suspect fled and remains at large, while the motive behind the shooting is still unclear, German media reported. Authorities have launched a large-scale search operation.

International

U.S. counterterrorism chief resigns over opposition to war in Iran

Joe Kent, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, announced Tuesday that he has resigned from his post, citing his opposition to the ongoing war in Iran.

In a post on X, Kent said he could not, “in good conscience,” support the conflict, arguing that Iran did not pose an imminent threat to the United States. He also claimed that the war was driven by pressure from Israel and its lobbying influence in Washington.

In a resignation letter addressed to Donald Trump, Kent alleged that at the start of the current administration, senior Israeli officials and influential figures in U.S. media carried out a disinformation campaign that undermined the “America First” platform and fostered pro-war sentiment aimed at triggering a conflict with Iran.

Kent further stated that he could not support sending a new generation of Americans to “fight and die in a war that provides no benefit to the American people and does not justify the cost in American lives.”

Since the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, at least 13 U.S. service members have been killed, while 10 others have been seriously wounded and around 200 have sustained minor injuries, according to a report published by The Wall Street Journal.

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International

German president warns Iran war could spread and disrupt Strait of Hormuz

The president of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, warned Monday that the war involving Iran could expand and further disrupt shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. He urged a swift end to hostilities between Iran, United States and Israel.

Speaking in Panama City during a joint appearance with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Steinmeier said available information suggests Iran has significant capacity to disrupt maritime traffic through the key oil route.

“Iran has considerable potential to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz,” Steinmeier said through an interpreter. “We should therefore reach an end to the hostilities as soon as possible and call on all parties involved to make that happen.”

The remarks came during Steinmeier’s visit to Panama, the first by a German president to the Central American nation.

The German leader described the possibility of the conflict spreading as “very dangerous,” saying recent developments indicate that such a scenario cannot be ruled out.

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Over the weekend, U.S. President Donald Trump urged allied nations to help ensure safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran moved to block the waterway in response to U.S. strikes. However, several allies—particularly in Europe—have shown little support for the proposal.

“Some are very enthusiastic, others are not, and some are countries we have helped for many years,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We have protected them from terrible external threats, and they’re not that enthusiastic. And the level of enthusiasm is important to me.”

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top diplomat, said the Strait of Hormuz falls “outside NATO’s scope” and stressed that “the war involving Iran is not Europe’s war.”