Leaders Of 27 European Union Countries Hold Meetings, Discuss Trump's Trade War Genderang Policy

JAKARTA - EU leaders gathered on Monday to discuss ways to increase the continent's defense against Russia and how to deal with US President Donald Trump after his decision to charge goods from Canada, Mexico, and China.

At the royal palace which is the center of the conference in Brussels, the leaders of 27 EU countries will also have lunch with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and dinner with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Antonio Costa, president of the European Council consisting of EU leaders, called the one-day meeting a "retret" aimed at defense policy compared to a formal summit, aimed at open discussions without a declaration or official decision.

The first session focused on geopoliticals and relations with the United States, meaning Trump's tariff policy at the weekend will inevitably occur especially as EU officials fear they will soon face similar measures.

Trump, who started his second term as president on January 20, will also be a major factor in talks on defense, as he demands European countries spend more on their own defenses and are less dependent on the United States through NATO.

Trump's call to members of the Danish EU to hand over Greenland to the United States and his refusal to rule out military action or economic pressure to force Copenhagen to also increase tensions over trans-Atlantic relations.

EU leaders are expected to discuss what military capabilities they need in the years to come, how funding it and strengthening cooperation with European countries.

"Europe needs to assume greater responsibility for its own defenses," Costa said in a letter to the leaders.

"This country needs to be more resilient, more efficient, more autonomous, and become a more reliable security and defense actor," he stressed.