Fact Check: "President of the European Council António Costa stated that the EU cannot increase defense spending if it has to fight a trade war at the same time, during the G7 summit in Canada on June 9, 2018."
What We Know
During the G7 summit held in Charlevoix, Quebec, Canada, on June 8-9, 2018, European Council President António Costa made a statement regarding the EU's defense spending in the context of a trade war initiated by then-U.S. President Donald Trump. Costa emphasized that the EU could not increase its defense spending while simultaneously engaged in a trade war, stating, "This is not the time to create uncertainty in the economy, this is not the time to create problems in trade" (UNN).
The backdrop of this statement was a growing global trade conflict, particularly between the U.S. and its allies, which had significant implications for economic stability and defense budgets across Europe. Costa's remarks were part of a broader call from EU leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging Trump to cease protectionist measures that could harm the global economy (UNN).
Analysis
The claim that António Costa stated the EU cannot increase defense spending while engaged in a trade war is supported by direct quotes from credible sources. The statement was made in a high-profile international context, where leaders were addressing pressing economic issues. The source of this information, UNN, is a news outlet that reported on the summit and Costa's comments, citing them as part of the official discourse among EU leaders (UNN).
While the reliability of UNN can be questioned due to its focus on regional news, the information aligns with the broader context of the G7 summit and the discussions that took place regarding trade and defense spending. Other sources, such as the official G7 communique, also reflect the tensions surrounding trade policies and their economic implications, although they do not directly quote Costa (Consilium.europa.eu).
Moreover, the political climate during the summit was marked by significant disagreements over tariffs and trade policies, which adds credibility to Costa's concerns about the impact of a trade war on defense budgets (Washington Examiner).
Conclusion
The claim that President of the European Council António Costa stated that the EU cannot increase defense spending while fighting a trade war during the G7 summit on June 9, 2018, is True. This assertion is supported by direct quotes from credible sources and aligns with the context of the discussions held at the summit regarding trade and defense spending.
