Editorial: La Vanguardia

• In his inaugural speech, Trump did not mention Europe and hinted at imposing tariffs on countries selling products to the U.S., many of which belong to the European Union.
• Trump showed his protectionism again, which would mainly affect Germany and Italy - the two largest European exporters.
• Trump's imperialism and Elon Musk's interference in Europe have caused confusion, whilst the EU has responded diplomatically.
• To counter potential tariffs, Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, proposes more European integration and the pursuit of new markets, including China.
• European countries must also deal with industrial weakness, high energy costs, fiscal imbalances and internal political crises.
• A possible disengagement of the United States from NATO would require European states to increase their defense spending and seek other forms of financing.
• The new focus of the relationship between the US and Europe will center on technology, trade, and defense.
• Europe still depends heavily on the United States, which limits its room for maneuver.

Conclusion: Europe is facing a series of challenges that require a reassessment of its relations with the U.S., and also represent an opportunity to strengthen its strategic autonomy and security.

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