European Union

The European Union's top official on Tuesday called into question US President Donald Trump's trustworthiness, saying that he had agreed last year not to impose more tariffs on members of the bloc. The European Union and the United States have agreed to a trade deal last July. And in politics as in business a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said. In a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Von der Leyen said that Trump's planned new tariffs over Greenland are a mistake especially between long-standing allies.

She further linked the trade push to upcoming high-level engagement, saying she will travel to India next weekend after the conclusion of the World Economic Forum in Davos

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Tuesday said America's relations with Europe remain strong and urged trading partners to take a deep breath and let tensions driven by the Trump administration's new tariff threats over Greenland play out. I think our relations have never been closer, he said, speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland. On Saturday, Trump announced a 10 per cent import tax starting in February on goods from eight European nations that have rallied around Denmark in the wake of his stepped up calls for the United States to take over the semi-autonomous territory of Greenland. Trump has insisted the US needs the territory for security reasons against possible threats from China and Russia.

Intimidation," threats and blackmail are just some of the terms being used by European Union leaders to describe US President Donald Trump's warning that he will slap new tariffs on nations opposing American control of Greenland. European language has hardened since Trump returned to the White House 12 months ago. Now it's in reaction to the previously unthinkable idea that NATO's most powerful member would threaten to seize the territory of another ally. Trade retaliation is likely should Trump make good on his tariff announcement. A year into Trump 2.0, Europe's faith in the strength of the transatlantic bond is fading fast. For some, it's already disappeared. The flattery of past months has not worked and tactics are evolving as the Europeans try to manage threats from an old ally just as they confront the threat of an increasingly hostile Russia. Trump's first term brought NATO to the brink of collapse. I feared that NATO was about to stop functioning, former Secretary-General

Norway's PM Jonas Gahr Store has clarified that the government plays no role in the Nobel Peace Prize, and decisions are made by an independent committee after Trump linked the snub to Greenland

The strategic importance of Greenland is growing, and Nato has underinvested in Arctic security, but President Trump, intent on ownership, is rebuffing deals with Europe to solve the problem

India and the European Union are set to announce the conclusion of a free trade agreement, firming up of a defence partnership pact and a framework for mobility of Indian professionals at the summit talks next week, diplomatic sources said on Monday. European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will be the chief guests at the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, and the India-EU summit will be held the next day. A military contingent from the EU, featuring the military staff flag and flags of Operations Atalanta and Aspides, the naval operations of the grouping, will feature at the Republic Day parade. It will be the EU's first participation in such an event outside of Europe, the sources said. Pressing global challenges, including the Russia-Ukraine war, the situation in the Middle East and the political developments in Venezuela, will be among the global issues that the two sides are likely to delve into at the summit, they .

Trump rattled Nato allies over the weekend after threatening to impose tariffs on a group of European members of the alliance if he doesn't get control of Greenland

The tariff threat, tied to a dispute over control of Greenland and broader trade tensions, has rattled markets and reinforced precious metals' appeal as a hedge against economic instability.

India should press the European Union (EU) to clear the "dense web" of non-tariff barriers for domestic products, especially in the agri and pharma sectors, under the proposed free trade agreement, as such restrictions often "blunt" the benefits of tariff reductions, think tank GTRI said on Monday. The conclusion of the India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations is expected to be announced on January 27 during the visit of the EU team here. The pact is nearing the finishing line after 18 years. The talks started in 2007. The President of the European Council, Antonio Luis Santos da Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will be on a state visit to India from January 25-27. They are chief guests at the 77th Republic Day celebrations. The barriers faced by Indian products in the EU include regulatory delays in pharmaceutical approvals, stringent sanitary and phytosanitary (related to plants and animals) rules affecting food and agricultural ..

Moments before von der Leyen stepped to the podium in Paraguay, the US president dropped a blistering announcement: He was piling more tariffs on Europe over its support for Greenland

Trump's latest salvo to wrest control of Greenland from Denmark - a Nato ally and EU member - slaps a 10 per cent tariff on goods from eight European countries on Feb 1, rising to 25 per cent in June

French President Emmanuel Macron has asked the EU to use its 'anti-coercion instrument,' often called the 'trade bazooka'

Radoslaw Sikorski, Polish deputy prime minister, who also holds the portfolio of foreign affairs, along with his spouse, journalist and historian Anne Applebaum, will be in India from Monday onwards

The deal announced in July 2025, between the US and the EU, comprising 27 member states, unveiled a bilateral framework agreement aimed at resolving various tariff and trade issues

The world's first legally binding agreement to protect marine life in international waters took effect Saturday, marking a historic moment for ocean conservation after nearly two decades of negotiations. The High Seas Treaty will govern nearly half the planet's surface the vast ocean areas beyond any country's control. These waters face mounting threats from destructive fishing practices, shipping, plastic pollution, overfishing and potential deep sea mining, all compounded by climate change. The ocean absorbs carbon dioxide and produces oxygen, making its health critical for addressing the climate crisis. The treaty entered into force 120 days after it reached the threshold of ratification by 60 countries in September. As of Friday, 83 countries had ratified it, including the recent addition of major maritime powers such as China and Japan. The treaty creates the first framework for establishing Marine Protected Areas on the high seas, which make up about two-thirds of the world'

The European Union and the Mercosur bloc of South American countries formally signed a long-sought landmark free trade agreement on Saturday, capping over a quarter-century of torturous negotiations to strengthen commercial ties in the face of rising protectionism and trade tensions around the world. The signing ceremony in Paraguay's humid capital of Asuncion marks a major geopolitical victory for the EU in an age of American tariffs and surging Chinese exports, expanding the bloc's foothold in a resource-rich region increasingly contested by Washington and Beijing. It also sends a message that South America cultivates diverse trade and diplomatic relations even as US President Donald Trump declares dominance in the Western Hemisphere.

'Sensitive' agri issues may be off the table

Greenland and Denmark say the island is not for sale, that threats of force are reckless and security concerns should be resolved among allies