WEF Coverage: EC President Von der Leyen Vows ‘Europe Will Always Choose the World,’ But Bitcoin USD Drops to $90k on Trade War Reality

In a fiery special address at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting on 21 January 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared that Europe is forging a “new form of European independence” amid escalating geopolitical shocks. The US continues to threaten tariffs over Greenland, and Russia’s war on Ukraine is relentless. Meanwhile, Europe is being criticised heavily for not putting up a united, strong front. 

“Europe will always choose the world, and the world is ready to choose Europe,” said von der Leyen. 

She talked about Europe’s pivot to global partnerships. “Geopolitical shocks can and must serve as an opportunity for Europe, and in my view the seismic change we are going through today is an opportunity, in fact, a necessity, to build a new form of European independence,” she said. 

Yet, her rhetoric clashed with the harsh market reality. Bitcoin has plunged from $96k to $89k amid fears of transatlantic trade war reignited by the US President Donald Trump’s Greenland demands. 

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California Governor Gavin Newsom accused European leaders of ‘complicity’ towards US President Trump's threats to take over Greenland. Speaking on the sidelines of WEF, Newsom said ‘it's time to have principles, it's time to stand tall and strong’ https://t.co/BmTHNkByvN pic.twitter.com/6Zf7Qv3TIa

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 20, 2026

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“If this change is permanent, then Europe must change permanently too”

Von der Leyen painted a vision of Europe overhauling trade, regulation, investment, energy, and defense to capitalize on “permanent” global changes. Just days after signing a breakthrough EU-Mercosur trade pact with Latin America- creating the world’s largest free trade zone worth over 20% of global GDP – she highlighted deals with Mexico, Indonesia, Switzerland and upcoming ones with Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and the UAE.

But are markets buying the optimism? Bitcoin often a barometer for global risk sentiment, shed over 3% in the past 24 hours to trade at $89,139 on 21 January 2026.

We have started a surge in defence spending up to €800 billion till 2030. Member states are stepping up their investment at record levels. And this has helped to triple the market value of European defence companies since January 2022.

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“Greenland is an issue which cuts to the heart of all these three imperatives – Partnerships, Prosperity, Security”

Europe pushes back against U.S. pressure.

At the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos [@wef], European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signaled a shift toward permanent European independence and, alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, criticized President Trump’s… pic.twitter.com/zFU2YVc9wJ

— TVP World (@TVPWorld_com) January 20, 2026

“Northern NATO members have Arctic-ready forces right now,” said the EC President. “And above all, that Arctic security can only be achieved together. And this is why the proposed additional tariffs are a mistake, especially between long-standing allies. The European Union and the United States agreed to a trade deal last July, and in politics, as in business, a deal is a deal. And when friends shake hands, it must mean something.”

Our EU member, Finland, one of the newest NATO members, is sending its first icebreakers to the United States. This shows that we have the capability right here in the ice, so to speak.

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