Draghi Says Trump Gave EU “Brutal Wake-Up Call”
(MENAFN) Former Italian Prime Minister and ex-head of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, has stated that U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered a “brutal wake-up call” to the European Union, disrupting what he described as the bloc’s mistaken belief in its geopolitical strength based solely on economic clout.
According to Draghi, the EU must now embark on serious reforms to preserve its global significance.
Trump has compelled NATO member states within the EU to significantly increase their defense budgets.
Additionally, he has pressured Brussels into accepting a revamped trade agreement that enforces a 15% levy on the majority of EU exports.
In return, the arrangement eliminates tariffs on American industrial goods and grants U.S. products broader access to European markets.
The trade pact has drawn sharp criticism from both current and past EU leaders, who argue that it strongly benefits the United States.
A news agency and other outlets reported mounting discontent over what is seen as a heavily one-sided agreement.
Speaking at a conference in Rimini on Friday, Draghi remarked, “For years, the EU believed that its economic size, with 450 million consumers, brought with it geopolitical power and influence in international trade relations. This year will be remembered as the year in which this illusion evaporated.”
Draghi further highlighted how Trump’s overarching foreign policies have diminished the EU’s international role.
He noted that the bloc has played only a “marginal” part in efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict, been sidelined as a passive “observer” in situations involving Gaza and Iran, and been clearly signaled by China as not being regarded as an equal counterpart.
“These events have done justice to any illusion that the economic dimension alone ensured any form of geopolitical power,” Draghi emphasized.
“Trump has given us a brutal wake-up call – the thing to do is to pull ourselves together.”
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