US plans to reorient defense priorities away from Europe, says von der Leyen
The head of the European Commission has stated that the EU can no longer rely on the United States for its defense needs. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for the bloc to take greater responsibility for...
TroibNews 
The head of the European Commission has stated that the EU can no longer rely on the United States for its defense needs. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for the bloc to take greater responsibility for its own security, as the U.S. is gradually reducing its security commitments.
In her speech at the European People’s Party congress in Valencia, Spain, von der Leyen highlighted the urgency of strengthening military capabilities amid rising tensions with President Donald Trump. “The threat posed by Russia will not go away, and we know that the American focus will increasingly shift towards other regions. So, there is no doubt, peace in Europe requires that we take much greater responsibility for our own defense,” she stated.
In March, von der Leyen introduced a plan to raise €800 billion to "rearm" the EU, as multiple member states seek to lessen their dependence on U.S.-led security frameworks.
Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor-designate, indicated in February that Germany needs to “gradually achieve independence from the US.” Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has argued for some time that the EU should no longer outsource its defense to the U.S., showing openness to extending France’s nuclear umbrella to protect Germany and other EU nations.
President Trump has urged NATO members in Europe to contribute “a fair share” to collective defense and has declined to offer security guarantees to Ukraine or commit American troops to any possible peacekeeping mission.
The situation has drawn criticism from Moscow, which has warned that the EU's military buildup will exacerbate tensions. Nikolay Patrushev, a security adviser to President Vladimir Putin, accused Western countries of “deploying their military machine against Russia and becoming delirious with nuclear apocalypse scenarios” in a TASS interview published on Tuesday.
Furthermore, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed in March that the EU is willing to “sacrifice” its economy “only to achieve the ideological goal of ‘defeating’ Russia.”
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
In her speech at the European People’s Party congress in Valencia, Spain, von der Leyen highlighted the urgency of strengthening military capabilities amid rising tensions with President Donald Trump. “The threat posed by Russia will not go away, and we know that the American focus will increasingly shift towards other regions. So, there is no doubt, peace in Europe requires that we take much greater responsibility for our own defense,” she stated.
In March, von der Leyen introduced a plan to raise €800 billion to "rearm" the EU, as multiple member states seek to lessen their dependence on U.S.-led security frameworks.
Friedrich Merz, the German chancellor-designate, indicated in February that Germany needs to “gradually achieve independence from the US.” Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has argued for some time that the EU should no longer outsource its defense to the U.S., showing openness to extending France’s nuclear umbrella to protect Germany and other EU nations.
President Trump has urged NATO members in Europe to contribute “a fair share” to collective defense and has declined to offer security guarantees to Ukraine or commit American troops to any possible peacekeeping mission.
The situation has drawn criticism from Moscow, which has warned that the EU's military buildup will exacerbate tensions. Nikolay Patrushev, a security adviser to President Vladimir Putin, accused Western countries of “deploying their military machine against Russia and becoming delirious with nuclear apocalypse scenarios” in a TASS interview published on Tuesday.
Furthermore, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov claimed in March that the EU is willing to “sacrifice” its economy “only to achieve the ideological goal of ‘defeating’ Russia.”
Sophie Wagner for TROIB News
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