EU Foreign Policy Chief Accuses U.S. of Trying to Divide Europe

BY COMFORT OGBONNA

Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s top foreign policy official, has accused the United States of attempting to weaken European unity, saying Washington has been openly hostile toward the bloc during a period of strained transatlantic relations. In an interview published Friday by the Financial Times, Kallas argued that recent U.S. actions and rhetoric indicate a broader strategy aimed at dividing Europe and undermining the role of the European Union.

Kallas said it is important for European leaders and citizens to recognize what she described as a clear shift in Washington’s stance toward the bloc. According to her, the United States has increasingly demonstrated that it does not support the European Union as a unified political and economic entity. She suggested that recent policy decisions and political messaging from Washington reflect a desire to deal with European countries individually rather than with the EU as a collective power.

The comments come after more than a year of growing turbulence in relations between the United States and Europe. Disputes over trade, defense commitments, and geopolitical priorities have created friction between the two sides, challenging a partnership that has historically been one of the most important alliances in global politics.

Tensions have been particularly visible during the second term of Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized the European Union and taken several steps that have strained diplomatic and economic ties with the bloc. Trump has imposed tariffs on a range of goods from EU member states and other countries, arguing that the measures are necessary to protect American industries and correct what he describes as unfair trade imbalances.

The U.S. administration has also revived controversial geopolitical proposals, including discussions about the possible annexation of Greenland, a vast Arctic territory that belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark. European leaders have warned that such a move could fundamentally alter security arrangements in the North Atlantic and potentially undermine the future of NATO, the military alliance that has long anchored Western defense cooperation.

Economic disputes have intensified in recent weeks as Washington expanded its scrutiny of global trade partners. The U.S. government announced new trade investigations targeting the European Union along with several other major economies, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Mexico. U.S. officials said the investigations aim to determine whether these countries have engaged in trade practices that disadvantage American businesses and workers.

If the probes confirm violations, the countries involved could face new tariffs as early as this summer. The investigations follow a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that dismantled significant portions of the Trump administration’s earlier tariff framework, prompting officials to pursue alternative legal paths to maintain pressure on foreign trading partners.

Kallas warned that the approach taken by Washington increasingly resembles strategies often used by geopolitical rivals to weaken the European bloc. According to the report, she argued that attempts to encourage divisions among EU member states echo tactics historically used by countries seeking to reduce Europe’s collective influence on the global stage.

Her remarks highlight growing concern among European policymakers that the transatlantic alliance may be entering a period of structural change. For decades, cooperation between the United States and Europe formed the backbone of Western diplomacy, economic coordination, and security policy. However, disagreements over trade rules, strategic priorities, and political values have increasingly tested that partnership.

European officials have repeatedly stressed the importance of maintaining unity within the EU in the face of external pressure. Many leaders argue that a fragmented Europe would weaken the region’s economic strength and geopolitical influence, particularly at a time when global competition among major powers is intensifying.

As the trade investigations move forward and diplomatic tensions continue to simmer, relations between Washington and Brussels appear set to remain under scrutiny. Analysts say the coming months could determine whether the transatlantic relationship stabilizes or drifts further into confrontation, potentially reshaping the balance of power between two of the world’s most influential political and economic blocs.