Europe must step up urgently to improve its defence and make Nato 'more European to maintain its strength', because the US has shaken the transatlantic relationship to its foundation, the EU's foreign policy chief has warned.
The US would continue to be Europe's partner and ally, Kaja Kallas told a defence conference, but no great power had ever 'outsourced its survival and survived'.
Kallas's remarks came after Nato leader Mark Rutte prompted a backlash when he said European lawmakers should 'keep on dreaming' if they thought Europe could defend itself without the US.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot reacted to Rutte's comments, asserting that Europeans can and must take control of their security, noting even the US agrees with this perspective. Kallas elaborated that under the Trump administration, Europe was 'no longer Washington's primary centre of gravity' and emphasized a shift towards collective European action.
Kallas acknowledged that Washington’s transition away from Europe has been ongoing, and she called for the 23 nations that are both EU and Nato members to sync their efforts more effectively. She also highlighted how recent tensions, including Trump's Greenland crisis, have made it clear that Europe must prioritize its independent defense capabilities.
Nato's original purpose was to protect its members against threats like the Soviet Union, and with current geopolitical challenges including Russian aggression, Kallas urged for the enhancement of European defense initiatives without delay.
