Today was a productive meeting. Thank you, António, for organizing it. We focused on strengthening our transatlantic partnership with the United States amidst new challenges. The EU is committed to maintaining robust dialogue and addressing any issues firmly. We also discussed the recent tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which negatively impact business and consumers. Our priority is early engagement and productive discussions.
On defence, we face real and growing threats, from Russias aggression to cyberattacks. The EU must enhance its defence capabilities by increasing spending and fostering innovation, learning from Ukraines rapid advancements. We will present a White Paper on European Defence in March, setting the stage for decisions in June.
Deepening cooperation with NATO and non-EU partners, such as through Mark Ruttes participation, is crucial. Discussions with Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized security cooperation beyond the EU. The UK Summit in May will further explore these partnerships.
With Donalds leadership as the rotating Presidency, we focus on security, relying on Polands energy and dedication to advance this agenda.