<p>Brussels: Europe is strong enough to pursue its own interests in trade talks with the United States, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday after a meeting with fellow EU leaders.</p><p>"The European Union is strong. We have every opportunity to make sure we can look after our own interests," Scholz said.</p><p>"And that is also a message to the United States, which at the same time is connected to us through an outstretched hand."</p><p>Scholz also praised Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for winning breathing room from US President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs.</p><p>"The Mexican president is a smart politician," he said. "She played it cool."</p>.Modi's Trump strategy sees quick concessions to avoid trade war.<p>The German chancellor also acknowledged problems in the common EU defence policy such as fragmentation and the absence of large common defence programmes.</p><p>"That has to change and that is why we have to change the way of purchasing," he said.</p><p>He also commented on Trump's latest demand for Ukraine to provide the US with rare earths in exchange for more aid by saying "it would be very selfish, very self-centred".</p><p>Such resources would be better used for the country's reconstruction after the war, Scholz added.</p>
<p>Brussels: Europe is strong enough to pursue its own interests in trade talks with the United States, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday after a meeting with fellow EU leaders.</p><p>"The European Union is strong. We have every opportunity to make sure we can look after our own interests," Scholz said.</p><p>"And that is also a message to the United States, which at the same time is connected to us through an outstretched hand."</p><p>Scholz also praised Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum for winning breathing room from US President Donald Trump's threatened tariffs.</p><p>"The Mexican president is a smart politician," he said. "She played it cool."</p>.Modi's Trump strategy sees quick concessions to avoid trade war.<p>The German chancellor also acknowledged problems in the common EU defence policy such as fragmentation and the absence of large common defence programmes.</p><p>"That has to change and that is why we have to change the way of purchasing," he said.</p><p>He also commented on Trump's latest demand for Ukraine to provide the US with rare earths in exchange for more aid by saying "it would be very selfish, very self-centred".</p><p>Such resources would be better used for the country's reconstruction after the war, Scholz added.</p>