EU Chief Sees US As 'Allies' Despite 'Differences'

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said there was a growing sense of urgency within the 27-nation EU because 'something fundamental has shifted' (Credit: AFP)

The EU still sees the United States as "allies" despite President Donald Trump's verbal broadsides against the bloc, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday, while stressing the need for Europe to "step up" on defence.

Asked in a news conference if she saw a need to redefine Brussels's approach to Washington, as it has already done towards Beijing, von der Leyen said the answer was "a clear no -- it's a completely different relationship that we have with the United States than we have with China".