Washington DC: US President Donald Trump declared that the European Union has treated the United States very unfairly, particularly in the realms of trade and NATO spending, with a promise to attain equitable trade relations with the EU. Trump made these remarks while speaking from Washington DC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, which convenes annually in Davos.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Trump highlighted the significant trade deficit the US faces due to Europe's policies, which he deems unfair. These policies include high tariffs and restrictions on American imports such as agricultural products and automobiles. Trump also criticized certain NATO member countries for not meeting their financial commitments to the alliance, resulting in the US shouldering most of the financial responsibilities, a situation he labeled as unjust.
Trump stressed that he would advocate for NATO nations to elevate defense spending to 5 percent of their GDP, a standard he believes should have been established years ago. He noted that NATO spending was previously set at 2 percent, and many countries failed to meet their commitments until he took action. He pointed out that the US shouldering the financial burden was unfair to the country.
On US-China relations, Trump emphasized the importance of enhancing ties with China, which he claims were adversely affected by the previous US administration and a significant trade deficit of 1.1 trillion dollars. Trump mentioned discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the potential reduction of nuclear weapons, with China willing to join these efforts during his earlier term. He underscored that nuclear disarmament is not solely an economic goal but a humanitarian necessity to prevent catastrophic outcomes from the use of nuclear weapons.
Trump also expressed a desire to build a balanced relationship with China, hoping that China could play a positive role in ending the Russia-Ukraine war. He confirmed that efforts were in progress to achieve a peaceful resolution to what he described as "an unprecedented slaughter since World War II," with millions of soldiers' lives lost in combat. He claimed that the war would not have commenced if he were in office, urging Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping to collaborate to end the conflict, which he termed "a complete killing field."
Regarding Gaza, Trump praised his administration's success in negotiating a ceasefire agreement, stating that this would not have been possible without US efforts, particularly his as president. Discussing his country, Trump expressed pride in the significant events the US would host during his term, including the 250th anniversary of the founding of the country and the upcoming FIFA World Cup and Olympic Games.
He also touched upon the relationship with Saudi Arabia and the recent investments announced by the kingdom, inviting foreign investors to begin investing in the US, assuring them of the lowest taxes in the world.