European leaders using group chat to discuss ‘wild’ Trump foreign policy – Politico
Western European leaders are exchanging messages in a group chat to coordinate a response to US President Donald Trump’s “wild” foreign policy, Politico reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Dubbed the ‘Washington Group’, the chat reportedly includes leaders from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, and the EU.
Over the past year, they have established a routine of texting whenever Trump does “something wild and potentially damaging,” the outlet said.
“When things start moving quickly, it’s hard to do the coordination, and this group [chat] is really effective,” a person familiar with the matter told Politico. “It tells you a lot about the personal relationships and how they matter.”
The outlet noted that Trump’s latest threats to annex Greenland, an autonomous Danish territory, have created a new urgency for European leaders to coordinate a response.
Last week, several European countries – including Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, and the UK – deployed between one and 15 troops to Greenland for a Danish-led military exercise. German personnel have reportedly already returned.
Tensions escalated further when Trump announced new tariffs on eight European NATO countries that oppose his Greenland plans, including Denmark. A 10% levy will take effect on February 1, rising to 25% in June, and will remain until the “complete and total purchase” of Greenland is achieved, Trump has said. The announcement drew sharp criticism from European leaders.
The development comes amid a broader shift in US foreign policy. A new US National Security Strategy released in December criticized European governments for what it called a loss of cultural confidence and warned of “civilizational erasure.” Trump has described Europe as “decaying” and led by “weak” people.
