The European Union on Thursday strongly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump‘s claims that the 27-nation bloc was working against the United States and warned it would vigorously oppose any 25 percent blanket tariff on EU products.

The escalating trade dispute comes after Trump accused the EU of being designed to “screw” the United States, deepening an already growing transatlantic rift fueled by his warnings that Washington could withdraw security guarantees for its European allies.

Speaking to reporters, Trump asserted, “The European Union was formed in order to screw the United States. That’s the purpose of it, and they’ve done a good job of it,” adding that such practices would end under his leadership.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country holds the EU’s rotating presidency, firmly pushed back against Trump’s remarks.

“The EU wasn’t formed to screw anyone,” Tusk said in an X post. “Quite the opposite. It was formed to maintain peace, to build respect among our nations, to create free and fair trade, and to strengthen our transatlantic friendship. As simple as that.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez added more fuel to the debate.

“We are going to defend our interests when our economies are attacked with tariffs that are completely unjustified and represent a veiled threat to our economic sovereignty.

“We are committed and prepared to do so,” he said in northern Spain.

The remarks by European Union leaders come as British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will visit the White House on Thursday.

This is a developing news article and will be updated as more information is available.

Reporting by The Associated Press contributed to this article.