As Donald Trump's punitive tariffs on the European Union prepare to take effect on 2 April, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has issued a rallying cry to the continent: it is time to 'march to independence'. In a powerful intervention, she positioned the EU at a turning point—one where it must break its reliance on the United States and refocus on protecting its own industrial and economic interests.
The warning comes as Europe braces for significant trade disruptions, with the ECB chief calling on member states to strengthen their autonomy across key sectors—from defence and finance to energy and digital infrastructure.
