The EU has postponed imposing retaliatory tariffs on $25 billion in US goods as internal divisions emerge over how to respond to Donald Trump’s threat of 30 percent duties on European imports starting

Italy's foreign minister warned that, while he hopes for successful negotiations, the EU will respond resolutely to Trump's latest tariff threat.

Von der Leyen's decision to resist immediate retaliatory measures points to the European Commission's desire to avoid a spiralling tit-for-tat escalation.

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a significant boost to France’s defense budget, citing Russia as the primary threat to national and European security. Speaking ahead of Bastille Day, Macron warned that freedom hasn’t faced such a dire threat since 1945.

President Emmanuel Macron said France will make a “new” and “historic” effort to increase defense spending to counter an acceleration of threats to freedom in Europe and the risk of outright war in the coming years.