Austrian President Alexander van der Bellen expressed his extreme concern about Washington’s manner of building relations with its European partners, which greatly deepens the contradictions and has a negative impact on the development of transatlantic relations, Austrian media reported.

“The behavior of the US with the EU reminds me of the former colonial powers,” the President said in his speech to the media. The head of state stressed that his discontent is primarily due to additional sanctions by Washington against European firms that continue to trade with Iran. Against this background, he said, open threats recently voiced by the us Ambassador in Berlin against the companies involved in the construction of the Nord stream – 2 gas pipeline cause a special misunderstanding.

Van der Bellen noted that Russia is building its dialogue with European partners in a completely different way. Meanwhile, according to the Austrian leader, Moscow also underestimates the EU as a full-fledged structure. According to him, it is more likely to negotiate with individual member States than with the Union as a whole.

The Austrian President is confident that Vienna will be able to significantly contribute to the strengthening of a noticeably weakening Europe. “We are appreciated abroad not only for the art, culture, our companies, but also for a significant role as a neutral intermediary,” van der Bellen said.