Von der Leyen advocates for increased EU military capabilities
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is advocating for a comprehensive "defense union" across the bloc. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The president of the European Commission has celebrated the bloc’s “historic” rearmament initiative.
Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for the EU to establish its own “defense union,” moving away from reliance on the United States. During a press conference in Brussels on Sunday, she highlighted the changing geopolitical landscape as she marked the first 100 days of her second five-year term.
"We have clearly entered a new era of harsh geostrategic competition," von der Leyen stated. "We see that sovereignty, but also ironclad commitments, are called into question. Everything has become transactional," she added.
Her remarks coincide with growing concerns over Washington’s dedication to NATO, especially in light of US Vice President J. D. Vance’s striking speech at the Munich Security Conference in February.
Von der Leyen praised the recently announced plan to secure €800 billion as a “historic” advancement in bolstering the EU’s military capabilities. "This can be the foundation of a European defense union," she remarked, suggesting that the bloc could collaborate with other aligned nations, such as the UK, Norway, or Canada.
The president further revealed that the European Commission would soon publish a white paper that examines “threat scenarios” and recommends measures to tackle them.
Former US President Donald Trump has repeatedly asserted that European allies must boost their defense spending. He recently stirred controversy among EU member states by holding Ukraine accountable for the conflict with Russia and suspending military assistance to Kiev. Last week, he remarked regarding America’s European allies, "If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them. No, I’m not going to defend them."
Trump’s significant shift from the previous administration’s firm support for Ukraine has led the EU to reevaluate its defense strategies.
French President Emmanuel Macron has labeled Russia “a threat to Europe,” suggesting that France’s nuclear capability could be utilized to safeguard other EU nations, which Moscow has described as “highly confrontational.”
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for the EU to establish its own “defense union,” moving away from reliance on the United States. During a press conference in Brussels on Sunday, she highlighted the changing geopolitical landscape as she marked the first 100 days of her second five-year term.
"We have clearly entered a new era of harsh geostrategic competition," von der Leyen stated. "We see that sovereignty, but also ironclad commitments, are called into question. Everything has become transactional," she added.
Her remarks coincide with growing concerns over Washington’s dedication to NATO, especially in light of US Vice President J. D. Vance’s striking speech at the Munich Security Conference in February.
Von der Leyen praised the recently announced plan to secure €800 billion as a “historic” advancement in bolstering the EU’s military capabilities. "This can be the foundation of a European defense union," she remarked, suggesting that the bloc could collaborate with other aligned nations, such as the UK, Norway, or Canada.
The president further revealed that the European Commission would soon publish a white paper that examines “threat scenarios” and recommends measures to tackle them.
Former US President Donald Trump has repeatedly asserted that European allies must boost their defense spending. He recently stirred controversy among EU member states by holding Ukraine accountable for the conflict with Russia and suspending military assistance to Kiev. Last week, he remarked regarding America’s European allies, "If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them. No, I’m not going to defend them."
Trump’s significant shift from the previous administration’s firm support for Ukraine has led the EU to reevaluate its defense strategies.
French President Emmanuel Macron has labeled Russia “a threat to Europe,” suggesting that France’s nuclear capability could be utilized to safeguard other EU nations, which Moscow has described as “highly confrontational.”
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
