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Podcast: The 2025 EU-US relationship explained simply

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Podcast: The 2025 EU-US relationship explained simply
By&nbspMéabh Mc Mahon&nbsp&&nbspAlice Carnevali

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2025 is coming to an end, and among the major developments that made international headlines was the turbulent relationship between the European Union (EU) and the United States (US).

Together with Euronews’ Brussels correspondent and US expert Stefan Grobe, Brussels, My Love? tries to make sense of what happened between the EU and the US in the last year, looking ahead to 2026.

What happened in 2025?

2025 started with Donald Trump entering his second term as US President. His administration brought significant changes to global politics, including gradually cutting funding to the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and escalating a trade war with China.

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The EU was not exempt from these economic tensions. To prevent further worsening of the transatlantic partnership, in the summer of 2025, Brussels struck a deal with Washington, which many described as an unequal agreement.

According to Grobe, the EU “didn’t have much of a choice” and attempted to negotiate, knowing that this was only the beginning of Trump’s term.

Yet, in the view of Stefan Grobe, not everything that Donald Trump criticised and implemented in the economic sector was wrong: “There were certain things where Trump pointed the finger at the right issues. For example, China’s behaviour in global markets and other countries, and we had to do something.”

What to expect from 2026?

The US-EU relationship further escalated at the beginning of December, following President Trump’s interview with media outlet Politico and the release of the Trump administration’s National Security Strategy for the US.

“Trump hates us, there’s no other way to describe it, he despises us,” Grobe said.

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And this can be an occasion, according to Grobe, for Europe to “figure out what to do next”.

Send us your feedback to Brusselsmylove@euronews.com.

Additional sources • David Brodheim sound editor and mixer.

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Video: A Maronite Priest Killed by Israeli Tank Fire is Mourned in Lebanon

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Video: A Maronite Priest Killed by Israeli Tank Fire is Mourned in Lebanon

new video loaded: A Maronite Priest Killed by Israeli Tank Fire is Mourned in Lebanon

A funeral was held in a village in southern Lebanon for a priest killed by Israeli tank fire. Israel has intensified its campaign against Hezbollah with expansive evacuation orders and air strikes across the country.

By Bethlehem Feleke and Arijeta Lajka

March 12, 2026

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Transgender triple killer removed from home with 2 foster children months after authorities were notified

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Transgender triple killer removed from home with 2 foster children months after authorities were notified

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Two foster children who had been living with a convicted transgender triple killer, despite authorities being aware of the situation since late December 2025, are no longer residing with the violent criminal, according to local media reports.

Reginald Arthurell — who began transitioning to a woman shortly after his release from prison in 2020 — was removed from the home after heavily armed officers raided the address on Monday, radio station 2GB reported. He had been living with a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old for several months, the outlet said. 

The minister for Families and Communities of New South Wales (NSW) on Tuesday issued an apology, saying the situation “should never have been allowed.”  

“It is entirely unacceptable for a vulnerable child in the care of the state to be living with a triple murderer,” Kate Washington told 2GB. “It should never have happened and I’m deeply apologetic for what has happened.”

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VIOLENT REPEAT OFFENDER ACCUSED OF KILLING TEACHER AS 911 CALL REVEALED HER FINAL MOMENTS: REPORT

Reginald Arthurell began transitioning into a woman after 2020 in Australia. (Obtained by the NY Post)

She added that “very poor decisions were made” at the time when authorities became aware of the situation and said a review is underway to determine how the “terrible” circumstances were allowed to happen, promising systemic changes.

The situation has sparked widespread backlash and calls for the resignation of authorities who allowed the crisis to continue for months. 

Late last year, Arthurell moved into an existing foster home in Sydney, where two children were already living under the care of an elderly woman, 2GB reported. He reportedly met her while she was working at a hospital, and he was a patient there.

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The woman, who invited him to move in as a housemate, already had two foster children living with her under her approved placement with the New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice.

Arthurell therefore shared the household with the children. The arrangement went unnoticed by authorities until the carer’s daughter reportedly raised concerns late last year.

FLORIDA MAN WHO WRESTLED COP’S GUN AWAY AND KILLED HIM TO BE EXECUTED AFTER FINAL APPEALS REJECTED

Reginald Arthurell is a three-time convicted murderer in Sydney, Australia.  (Obtained by the NY Post)

Prior to moving in, Arthurell had built a long criminal history, primarily involving the killings of three people over three decades, court documents show. He was first convicted of manslaughter in 1974 for reportedly stabbing his stepfather to death in Sydney. In 1981, he fatally bashed a 19-year-old sailor during a violent robbery, and while on parole in 1995, he killed his fiancée by beating her to death with a piece of wood, local outlets reported.

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After killing his romantic partner, he was caught photographing himself wearing one of her dresses, 2GB added.

All three killings involved alcohol, court documents show. Records indicate that Arthurell spent nearly 39 years of his life in custody following the murders.

After his prison release in November 2020, Arthurell began transitioning into a woman under the name Regina. The first public photos and self-introductions appeared on a transgender community Facebook page in May 2021, 2GB reported. Arthurell had also expressed plans to undergo gender-affirming surgery “as soon as possible,” News.com.au reported.

Reginald Arthurell was removed from a home that housed two foster children following a raid by armed police officers.  (Obtained by the NY Post)

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Court documents also described that “her transition has been taking place over quite some years,” confirming the process was ongoing after his release.

Arthurell now remains in private accommodation following his Monday removal, ABC Australia reported Tuesday. 

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Polish president vetoes law unlocking €44bn in EU defence loans

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Polish president vetoes law unlocking €44bn in EU defence loans

By&nbspAnna Weglarczyk

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Poland’s president, Karol Nawrocki, has vetoed legislation that would have enabled the country to access nearly €44 billion in European Union defence loans, escalating a political clash with the government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk over how to finance the country’s defence spending.

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The bill would have allowed Warsaw to access funds from the EU’s Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, a €150 billion initiative aimed at boosting defence spending and strengthening Europe’s defence industry.

Poland was set to receive around €43.7 billion in loans under the scheme, making it the largest potential beneficiary.

Government backed EU loans to speed up military investment

Tusk’s pro-EU coalition had strongly supported the legislation, arguing that the loans would provide favourable financing to accelerate Poland’s military modernisation at a time of heightened security concerns following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Officials said the funding could support a wide range of defense projects, including strengthening the country’s eastern border and investing in domestic arms production.

But Nawrocki, who is aligned with the conservative opposition argued that relying on EU loans could increase Poland’s dependence on Brussels. Instead, he has proposed using domestic resources to finance defence investments, including profits from the country’s central bank reserves.

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Tusk denounces Nawrocki’s patriotism over veto

The decision triggered swift criticism from members of the government. In a post on X, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote: “The President lost his chance to act like a patriot,” referring to what he described as a missed opportunity to secure EU financing for defence investment. He also announced a special cabinet meeting on Friday morning when he’ll introduce alternative steps to approve the loan. Tusk earlier said that his government is preparing a “plan B” that would still allow Poland to access SAFE funds.

Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also criticised the move on social media, warning that blocking access to the EU mechanism could weaken Poland’s ability to strengthen its defence capabilities.

Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz defended the government’s proposal, arguing that the EU loans would allow Poland to expand military spending without placing additional strain on the national budget.

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