The US President-elect Donald Trump's inflammatory video about Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has sparked concern among European leaders. The EU, led by Ursula von der Leyen, is worried that Trump's return to the White House could lead to a bad deal on Ukraine and potentially trigger trade tariffs. In response, Von der Leyen emphasized the importance of maintaining the Transatlantic bond between the US and Europe, while also reaffirming the EU's commitment to protecting its citizens and democratic values.
https://www.firstpost.com/world/ursula-von-der-leyen-wont-attend-trumps-inauguration-was-not-invited-says-eu-13851735.htmlEuropean leaders are bracing themselves for a tumultuous relationship with US President-elect Donald Trump, who has made provocative statements including refusing to rule out using military force to seize Greenland. Despite this, the European Union is taking a cautious approach, seeking not to get too worked up by Trump's comments and instead focusing on maintaining a positive engagement with his administration. EU leaders are prioritising crafting a positive agenda that aligns with Trump's transactional mindset, while also drawing clear lines about what they see as unproductive or unacceptable behaviour from him. The EU is particularly concerned about potential trade tariffs and the impact of Trump's policies on European security, including the situation in Ukraine.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2025/01/10/europe-puts-on-a-brave-front-as-storm-trump-bears-down/162667The European Union imposed sanctions on 15 Venezuelan officials, including President Nicolás Maduro and his vice president, for their role in the country's 2024 election, which the EU deemed threatened democracy. Meanwhile, Venezuelan authorities suspended commercial flights and closed borders with Colombia, a move that came after former opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González announced he would return to the country to be sworn in as president, a position recognized by several countries including the US and the Organization of American States.
https://www.boston25news.com/news/world/venezuela-latest/CMDVXLMMV5AU5EES3JYMC3W7U4/The European Union has imposed sanctions on 15 top Venezuelan officials who played a role in the country's disputed election, citing concerns that they have put democracy at risk. The sanctions target the president and vice president of Venezuela's Supreme Court, electoral agency, and others. In response to the EU's move, Venezuelan authorities have suspended commercial flights and closed borders with Colombia for 72 hours. Former opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González, who is recognized as the winner of the election by several countries including the US, has promised to return to Venezuela to be sworn in as president. However, his plans are unclear, and he faces opposition from President Nicolás Maduro, who has been in power since 2013 despite widespread criticism of his rule. The situation has led to a deterioration in relations between Venezuela and its neighbors, with the US and other countries condemning Maduro's actions.
https://apnews.com/article/maduro-venezuela-inauguration-opposition-machado-gonzalez-ef148f95008a467367cb838c17994d15The Group of Seven (G7) countries have denounced the inauguration of Nicolas Maduro as president of Venezuela due to a lack of democratic legitimacy. The G7, which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, along with the European Union, expressed concern that the inauguration underscores the urgent need for an environment where democratic engagement can flourish without fear of reprisal. They called for a peaceful, democratic, negotiated and Venezuelan-led solution to resolve the crisis in Venezuela.
https://www.lokmattimes.com/international/g7-denounces-lack-of-democratic-legitimacy-in-inauguration-of-maduro-as-venezuelas-president/German Defense Minister Pistorius welcomed a plan to strengthen NATO's presence in the Baltic Sea region, which would send a clear signal that the alliance will not tolerate sabotage and destruction. Germany is ready to make its contribution, with the German Navy playing a pioneering role since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The country has been conducting screening missions at sea and underwater, including "hunting" for Russian submarines with Sea Lion helicopters and NH-90 NTH Sea Tiger multi-role helicopters. By 2030, Germany plans to have 31 such helicopters, which will replace the Sea Lynx Mk88A, and maritime patrols will be carried out by P-8A "Poseidon" aircraft, replacing the current P-3C Orion.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-defense/3947279-russia-conducts-hybrid-operations-in-baltic-sea-area-on-daily-basis-pistorius.htmlThe Ukrainian Defense Ministry has requested additional military aid from Germany, including three IRIS-T air defense batteries and Patriot guided missiles, citing Ukraine's urgent needs due to Russia's accelerated advances on the front. The German government is considering using Article 60 of the budget to approve unplanned expenses for the aid, a move that would send an important signal to Ukraine that German assistance will not stop despite the uncertainty surrounding American aid following Donald Trump's election victory. However, Chancellor's office has unofficially signaled that they do not support the idea, citing concerns about confronting the future federal government with this fact.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3947034-scholz-blocking-additional-funds-for-military-aid-to-ukraine-spiegel.htmlGroenlandia's Prime Minister Múte B. Egede stated that the people of the Arctic territory do not want to become part of the United States, but are open to increased cooperation with Washington due to its strategic location. This comes after US President-elect Donald Trump said he would consider using force or economic pressure to make Groenlandia, a semi-autonomous Danish territory, part of the US as a matter of national security. Egede acknowledged that Greenland is geographically part of North America and an area that Americans view as part of their world, but emphasized that it has its own distinct identity.
https://apnews.com/article/groenlandia-eeuu-dinamarca-trump-f107f958d5e3168131f0338703a58b5bChinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng has called for closer economic ties with Britain, specifically in areas such as financial services, biomedicine and artificial intelligence, at a revived dialogue event co-hosted with British finance minister Rachel Reeves in Beijing. The two sides are seeking to repair relations after years of tension, with Reeves' visit marking the most senior British government official to visit China since October. He Lifeng suggested that mutually beneficial economic cooperation could serve as a stabilising anchor for the relationship, highlighting potential areas for collaboration between the two nations.
https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3294384/china-calls-closer-financial-ties-britain-both-sides-seek-reset?module=top_story&pgtype=section