Why I didn’t know this? Most powerful pirate ever commanded arguably most powerful navy of that time (probl only 2nd to UK), was a Chinese woman so powerful she retired with her wealth pardoned (unlike others) & died peacefully after running a gambling house in Macao in 1844- I wanna see this series

😳😳😳Remember almost exactly one year ago when Rutte(together with Scholz) irked EU leaders in EUCO because they rejected more joint EU defense funding to cover military gaps. Rutte’s attitude shocked many. NL’s argument was clear assessment of the needs first…isn’t that what Sanchez says too? 🙈

❗️G-7 officially starts on Monday Kananaskis (Canada) clouded by tensions in Middle East, but we got a taste of EU priorities in Sunday’s presser w VDL & Costa. She spoke about readiness to work w partners for energy market stability. Surprise addition to team was Sefcovic, as 9 July deadline nears

What a timely quote to read after a week of coverage in Washington marked by Trump’s tariffs war, the latest example of the power politics era blowing up the existing -eroding?- order.
A walk through the memorials is always mandatory when visiting DC

👉 Global finance chiefs meet: this week in Washington to cover the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings. The Fund warned today of the consequences of Trump’s tariff war as finance ministers arrive to scope what order may come of the current disorder, market turbulence & central bankers in difficult spot

❗️NOW: We’re visiting the port of Hamburg (2nd biggest in EU) with European Council president Antonio Costa - timely visit as the chaos emerging from the White House keeps nations and companies second guessing how the tariff war is going to impact global trade
@eucopresident.consilium.europa.eu

Leaders stuck to the guidance given by l UK that they shouldn’t make remarks to reporters on the way in. There were some serious faces, comments about the sunny weather in London & Tusk turned up sporting a leg brace due to a skiing accident. Sanchez was the last to arrive, shortly after Zelenskiy.

❗️NOW: UK prime minister Starmer just arrived to the summit as he seeks members for a “coalition of the willing” to provide security guarantees to Ukraine.
On Thursday, EU leaders will meet in Brussels to accelerate plans for increasing defense spending and additional support for Ukraine

Best email I got from @consilium.europa.eu in a while.

May The Force Be With You

It’s quite significant change of narrative from EU Commission/Von der Leyen toward China since Inauguration Day, from de-risking/new tools coz of Beijing=threat (March 2023) to offering deepening relationship (first heard in VDL Davos speech) & EC wanna make sure everybody (esp. Trump) knows

👉In Warsaw where EU trade ministers discussing today/tomorrow how to face Trump.
Sefcovic said "we should be very responsible" looking at this "massive relationship".
EU- US trade vol. €1.5tr,
US deficit in goods €154bn
BUT EU deficit in services: €104bn
€50bn gap (3% of total volume of trade)

🙈 Fun fact- if you ask censored DeepSeek who would win a trade war between EU, US and China…

How’s your teleworking day going?