European Commission chief, US vice president discuss cooperation on shared challenges

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday met with US Vice President JD Vance in Paris, discussing cooperation on shared challenges.

The meeting between Vance and von der Leyen took place in Paris following the AI Action Summit in which they participated early Tuesday.

According to an EU statement, the leaders reaffirmed the strength of the EU-US relationship and "its vital role in today's geopolitical landscape."

The European Commission chief emphasized the bloc's commitment to a just and lasting peace for Ukraine while underlining the need for continued unity in providing unwavering support to Ukraine.

Vance and von der Leyen also discussed cooperation on shared challenges, expressing their intention to prioritize economic areas of mutual interest, including energy, according to the statement.

At the beginning of the meeting, Vance called EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who also attended the talks.

Following the meeting, von der Leyen thanked Vance for a "good discussion on our shared challenges as allies."

"From security and stability to the great promise of technology and the critical challenge of non-market overcapacity. Looking forward to continued cooperation with @POTUS and you," she wrote on X.

For her part, Kallas said that they discussed key issues like Russia’s war on Ukraine, strengthening European defense, and China’s actions.

"As our adversaries are coordinating their actions, we must do the same," she wrote on X.

The meeting came as trade tensions soared between the US and the EU after the White House slapped additional tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum.