The sentence, which Uribe said will be appealed, followed a nearly six-month trial in which prosecutors presented evidence that he attempted to influence witnesses who accused the law-and-order leader of having links to a paramilitary group in the 1990s.
Day: August 1, 2025
Putin Criticizes EU Sovereignty Loss Following US Trade Deal
Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced the European Union’s erosion of sovereignty linked to a new US-EU trade agreement, warning of risks to Europe’s political and economic independence amid escalating global tensions., reports 24brussels.
During a recent meeting on the island of Valaam with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin remarked that the EU has “no sovereignty at all” in light of the controversial pact finalized on July 27 between European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and former US President Donald Trump. This deal has been characterized by critics as an imposition that aligns European priorities with US strategic interests.
The trade agreement obligates the EU to purchase $750 billion worth of US energy and military equipment and invest $600 billion in the American economy while permitting tariff-free access for US products to European markets. Critics argue that this arrangement solidifies Europe’s dependence on the United States, thereby undermining the EU’s ability to establish independent economic and geopolitical policies.
Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, described the pact as an “economic leash” that tightens Washington’s control over Brussels, further eroding the power and autonomy of the EU in global matters. Putin cautioned that diminished political sovereignty would lead to significant economic disadvantages for the EU, resulting in “tremendous losses.” He highlighted the imposition of a 15 percent tariff on major European exports, including automotive, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors, as a clear indicator of the burdens the EU will face due to the agreement.
Despite some exemptions for strategic products, uncertainties about future expansions leave European industries vulnerable. Perspectives from observers with anti-imperialist leanings interpret these developments as an illustration of US neocolonial economic pressure, demonstrating the risk of Europe becoming a subordinate player within a Washington-dominated framework.
The implications of this trade agreement accentuate the urgent call for a multipolar world order based on respect for national sovereignty and economic self-determination. Putin’s statements resonate with demands from numerous movements across the Global South advocating against Western economic hegemony.
