【By Guanchazhe.com, Chen Sijia】On December 5, the U.S. government released a new national security strategy document, sharply criticizing Europe for "economic decline and a serious prospect of civilizational collapse." These statements caused unease among European leaders, who were worried about Trump's "hostile" attitude.

Two weeks later, EU Commission President von der Leyen broke her silence to respond to the Trump administration's comments. According to Bloomberg on December 17, von der Leyen said during a speech at the European Parliament that Europe should not be shocked by comments from other countries, "we cannot let others' worldviews define Europe."

Von der Leyen argued that the U.S. national security strategy document omitted some key facts. She pointed out that Europe's share in global GDP has indeed dropped from 25% in 1990 to 14% today, but the U.S. has also experienced the same situation, with its GDP share falling from 22% to 14% during the same period. At the same time, China's economy is rapidly rising.

Von der Leyen said: "This is not an issue of one economy on either side of the Atlantic, but a shift in the global economy. What I mean is: this strategy does not explain why Europe is facing conflicts in the world. This is the current state of the world."

She told the European Parliament: "We cannot let others' worldviews define us, and we should not be shocked by how others evaluate Europe. Let me put it this way: it is not the first time that certain statements about Europe have become outdated; people are not the first time to realize that the post-war world order is undergoing drastic changes."

December 17, Strasbourg, France, von der Leyen delivers a speech at the European Parliament, Visual China

EU leaders will hold a summit on December 18 local time to discuss whether to use frozen Russian assets to provide loans to Ukraine. The EU also seeks to sign a free trade agreement with the Southern Common Market, consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Bolivia, on December 20 local time, building a comprehensive market with 780 million consumers.

However, both agendas face resistance within the EU. Belgium opposes using frozen Russian assets, as most frozen Russian assets in the EU are held at the European Clearing Bank in Brussels, and using these assets would pose significant financial and legal risks for the country.

Several EU countries, including France, farmers oppose the free trade agreement with the Southern Common Market, fearing that local agriculture would be hit by South American agricultural products. Euronews stated that France now tends to delay the free trade agreement until next year, and the stance of another major member state, Italy, may determine the success or failure of the agreement, but Italian Prime Minister Meloni has remained silent so far.

In response, von der Leyen warned that Europe is currently in an "emergency situation," "the peace of yesterday has disappeared, and we have no time to dwell in nostalgia." She called it "a moment of European independence," urging the EU to pass the plan to fund Ukraine and strengthen supply chains while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU.

The U.S. government released a new national security strategy document on the 5th, which highlights the "huge ideological gap" between the U.S. and its traditional allies. The document states that Europe is in a "double dilemma," with "Europe's share in global GDP has been declining, but this economic decline has been overshadowed by the serious risk of civilizational collapse."

The document directly challenges the EU, claiming that the U.S. should "cultivate forces that resist Europe's current development trajectory" in European countries. It also praises the growing political influence of right-wing populist parties in Europe, arguing that if such parties come to power in multiple EU countries, they could pose a threat to the future of the EU.

Trump again criticized European leaders on December 8 during an interview with the website Politico, accusing them of being "weak and incompetent." He said, "I think they (European leaders) are very weak, they want to maintain political correctness. I think they don't know what to do next, Europe doesn't know what to do."

Trump believes that European cities like London and Paris are facing pressure from immigrants from the Middle East and Africa, and if European countries do not change their immigration policies, some countries will "no longer exist as nations." He claimed he would continue to support leaders who meet his expectations for Europe.

U.S. statements have caused concern among European leaders. On December 8, European Council President Tusk attended a meeting in Paris and stated that Trump should not threaten to interfere in the political activities or internal democratic choices of European allies.

"The U.S. no longer believes in multilateralism, and even no longer believes in the 'rules-based international order,' they also claim climate change is a lie," Tusk said. "Allies should not threaten to interfere in the political activities or internal democratic choices of other allies. Allies should respect each other and respect each other's sovereignty. We cannot accept threats to interfere in European political activities."

This week's EU leaders' summit is seen as a key "turning point." EU officials told Bloomberg that whether the loan plan for Ukraine and the EU-Southern Common Market free trade agreement can pass will determine whether the EU still has the ability to forge its own path. If it fails, the EU's reputation and international status may suffer a heavy blow and provide more material for Trump to mock the EU.

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Original: toutiao.com/article/7584828747417748009/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.