Key Reads
Sarah Burns – 36 minutes ago
Situation has potential to cause a ‘spiral of destabilising actions that could have dire consequences’, says Simon Harris
Tánaiste Simon Harris has said it is important that “intensive diplomatic efforts” happen to try and de-escalate an “extraordinarily dangerous economic situation”.
Speaking on his way into the Economic and Financial Affairs Council in Brussels on Tuesday, the finance minister said when it comes to the EU-US relationship, “there is not an hour to spare”.
“It’s absolutely important that intensive diplomatic efforts are put under way to try and de-escalate an extraordinarily dangerous economic situation,” he said.
“We all know that tariffs are bad for the Irish economy. They’re bad for the European economy. They’re bad for the US economy as well. But this is now deeper than that, also.
“This has the potential to cause a spiral of destabilising actions that could have dire consequences.
“So cool heads must prevail, and there is not a moment to lose and the next number of days will be crucial as Europe works to try and stabilise this situation and find a way forward.
“Because we are always stronger the EU and the US when we co-operate, when we collaborate.”
Cypriot finance minister Makis Keravnos Sarmento and Simon Harris during the Economic and Financial Affairs Council meeting in Brussels. Photograph: EPA
Sarah Burns – 44 minutes ago
US president Donald Trump posted this on his Truth Social social media page earlier this morning.
Donald Trump post on Truth Social on January 20th. Image: Truth Social Macron invites Trump to Paris for talks, texts show
French president Emmanuel Macron is seeking to arrange an emergency G7 meeting in Paris, involving Trump, a private message between the two leaders shows, Europe correspondent Jack Power writes.
In a text message to Mr Trump, Mr Macron said:
“I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland”.
Mr Macron offered to arrange a meeting of G7 powers, which includes the US, in Paris on Thursday, followed by a dinner between the French and US leaders.
“Let us have a dinner together in Paris together on Thursday before you go back to the us,” he wrote.
A screenshot of the full message was posted on Truth Social by Mr Trump this morning. A source in the Élysée confirmed to The Irish Times that the text was genuine.
“We are totally in line on Syria. We can do great things on Iran. I do not understand what you are doing on Greenland. Let us try to build great things,” it said.
Mr Macron proposed inviting the Ukrainians, Danish, new Syrian government, and Russia to Paris for the talks on the margins of the proposed meeting.
The texts give a glimpse into European leaders’ efforts to engage Mr Trump, in a bid to encourage him to walk back his demands to buy or seize Greenland and hit European allies with more trade tariffs.
French president Emmanuel Macron speaks as he leads a meeting on New-Caledonia at the Élysée Palace in Paris on Monday. Photograph: Stephane de Sakutin, AFP via Getty Images
The Maga faith has not been shaken through what has been a disorienting year, Washington correspondent Keith Duggan writes.
Trump has, at 79, transformed the White House into a volatile and unknowable force of change and whimsy.
Read his full piece here.
European leaders are hoping to prevent a trade war breaking out with the United States over Greenland, but are preparing contingency plans to push back on Donald Trump’s “blackmail” attempts, should high-stakes attempts to defuse tensions this week fail.
Efforts to engage the White House are being stepped up and several EU leaders are expected to discuss the crisis in transatlantic relations with Mr Trump in Davos this week on the margins of the World Economic Forum.
It is understood top officials close to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen have been in contact with senior figures in the Trump administration, including Jared Kushner, to sound out the US president’s intentions.
Read our lead story this morning here.
Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Cowen has said Donald Trump, JD Vance and “radical” elements of their administration “do not speak for the American people”, Europe correspondent Jack Power writes.
In a speech to the European Parliament last night, the former agriculture minister said the US was breaking away from an international order it had helped to build and defend for decades.
“I can’t help but wonder, where are the voices in the US Congress who not so long ago stood for partnership and international law? Their silence is being heard across Europe,” he told MEPs.
“All in all, this is not simply a trade dispute. It is a test. A test of whether law still matters, whether alliances still matter and whether Europe is prepared to defend them,” he said.
Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Cowen has said Donald Trump, JD Vance and ‘radical’ elements of their administration ‘do not speak for the American people’. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times
Sarah Burns – 2 hours ago
Good morning. US president Donald Trump has said he will impose a 200 per cent tariff on French wines and champagnes, a move he claimed would push French president Emmanuel Macron to join Trump’s Board of Peace initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts.
When asked by a reporter about Mr Macron saying he will not join the board, Trump said: “Did he say that? Well, nobody wants him because he will be out of office very soon.
“I’ll put a 200 per cent tariff on his wines and champagnes, and he’ll join, but he doesn’t have to join,” Mr Trump said.
Mr Trump originally proposed establishing the board of peace when he announced last September his plan to end the war in Gaza. However an invitation sent to world leaders last week outlines a broad role ending conflicts globally.
Mr Trump has also said that he thought European leaders would not “push back too much” on his attempt to buy Greenland.
“I don’t think they’re gonna push back too much. We have to have it. They have to have this done,” he told reporters on Monday.
The US president has said that he had a “very good” telephone call with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte concerning Greenland.
Mr Trump also said he had agreed to a meeting of various parties at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Follow irishtimes.com for updates throughout the day.
US president Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport in Florida on Monday. Photograph: Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images