The Yerevan Summit

Europe calls Canada to build an alternative to Trump's US

For the first time, the European Political Community summit was attended by Mark Carnery's Canada, a country with which the EU is forging ever closer ties. For the other representative Kallas, the US announcements and choices in the military sphere show 'that we really need to strengthen the European pillar within NATO'.

from our correspondent Beda Romano

5 May 2026

Da sinistra a destra, la presidente della Commissione europea Ursula von der Leyen , il primo ministro canadese Mark Carney, il segretario generale della Nato Mark Rutte, il presidente dell'Ucraina Volodymyr Zelenskyy e il primo ministro finlandese Petteri Orpo durante l'ottavo vertice della Comunità politica europea a Erevan, in Armenia APN

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

BRUSSELS - Never before in Yerevan has Europe positioned itself as a political and economic alternative to Donald Trump's America. In an international context marked by military conflicts and trade wars knowingly provoked by Washington, the Twenty-Seven gathered in Armenia with the countries of the wider European neighbourhood and beyond. For the first time, Canada, a country with which the EU is forging ever closer ties, also participated.

"In an increasingly chaotic world (...) Europe must be at the forefront in defending the international order based on rules, and founded on the United Nations Charter as the main pillar of multilateralism," European Council President António Costa explained from Yerevan. Moreover, the former Portuguese Prime Minister added, "growing instability requires a multipolar partnership to promote sustainable peace and ensure shared prosperity".

President Costa's defence of the 'European way' of behaving on the international stage came at the eighth meeting of the European Political Community, a twice-yearly gathering of heads of state and government from the whole of Europe. This time the meeting took place in Armenia, on the Asian border. The moment is delicate. Besides the wars in Ukraine and Iran, the European Union has to reckon with increasingly anti-European American decisions.

Last weekend, President Donald Trump announced an unexpected increase in tariffs on imported cars from Europe, from 15 to 25 per cent (however, legal details on the new measure were still lacking last night). At the same time, he warned that there will be a withdrawal of 5,000 US soldiers from Germany. The disengagement, the War Department explained, will take place within 6-12 months.

From Yerevan, the reactions were diplomatic. On the subject of the American military choice, High Representative Kaja Kallas explained: 'This shows that we really need to strengthen the European pillar within NATO and that we really need to engage more'. The partial withdrawal of American soldiers - there are 30,000 troops stationed in Germany - comes while the US has also decided not to send a battalion armed with long-range missiles to Europe.

In assessing the White House's choices, it should be borne in mind that the number of American soldiers stationed in Europe is dictated by a Congressional law that for the time being sets the total presence at 76,000 soldiers. Also from Yerevan, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte wanted to justify Washington's decision: "On the American side, there is disappointment with the European reaction" to the US war against Iran. The European allies have so far ruled out any involvement.

International instability indirectly strengthens the European role in the world. Yesterday's meeting in Yerevan was attended by Turkish Vice-President Cevdet Yılmaz. His presence is interesting for several reasons. Usually heads of state and government attend the meetings. An exception was made for Turkey, confirming the importance attached to the rapprochement between Brussels and Ankara. Moreover, the presence of a senior Turkish leader in Armenia (given the historical background) is significant.

Canada's presence yesterday in Yerevan is equally, if not more interesting. The ties between Ottawa and Brussels have strengthened greatly in recent months, not only economically, but also militarily. Both countries are in the crosshairs of President Trump; and both are pulling together. PM Mark Carney said: 'My strong personal belief is that while the international order will be rebuilt, it will be rebuilt from Europe.

Despite the many uncertainties of the Brussels decision-making process (and the many European dependencies on the US), the EU is proving to be a possible alternative to President Trump's America in the eyes of many third countries. Admitted British Prime Minister Keir Starmer from Yerevan: 'We cannot deny that some of the alliances we have come to rely on over the decades are not at the level we would like'.

Beda RomanoCorrispondente
- @BedaRomano
Luogo: Bruxelles
Lingue parlate: francese, tedesco, inglese
Argomenti: Affari europei
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