The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom met this Wednesday to promote the hard core of Europe’s defense “imperative”. This new G5+ aims to establish a common position in the face of uncertainty reigns on the Old Continent for the imminence return of Donald Trump in power in the United States and, above all, by “Russia’s systematic attack on the European security architecture”.
The six countries published a joint note, after the first meeting of this group which aims to establish itself as promoter of an increasingly strengthened European counterweight which strengthens the unity of European partners and the transatlantic alliance of NATO. “We are aware,” the ministers say, “that our common security faces the greatest challenges we have ever witnessed in our lifetimes.”
At the dawn of the new European legislature, the future High Representative of the EU also joined the event, Kaja Kallaswhich should replace Spanish Joseph Borrell. The note is signed by the French, Jean-Noel Barrot; German, Annalena Baerbock; the Italian, Antonio Tajani; varnish, Radoslaw Sikorski; the British, David Lamy; and the Spanish, José Manuel Albaresvia telematics from the G-20 in Rio de Janeiro.
The next meeting of this G5+ will take place soon in Berlin and negotiations are already underway for Madrid to host the next meeting.
In the note, Spain once again commits to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP and even opens on the Possibility that “higher spending” will be required to face “growing security threats” and to achieve “prevention and defense objectives in all areas of the Euro-Atlantic area”.
Foreign sources emphasize the fact that Since the start of this operation, Spain has been “at the heart” of the new Europe of defense, as one of the EU’s five major partners. “We are often singled out because of our position in the Middle East,” admit these sources, “but with Ukraine too, our commitment is absolute.”
Spain is undoubtedly one of the big five in the European Union. The might of our country’s defense industry, one of the strongest on the continent and one of the world’s largest exporters, has also weighed more heavily.
And the joint declaration of the six foreign ministers coincides, in broad terms, with the charter of powers that the elected president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenpresented to his candidate for the post of Defense Commissioner, the former Prime Minister of Lithuania Andrei Kubilius: integration of systems, interoperability, end of obstacles to investment and arms trade between partners…
“During the last 1,000 days“In its war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia has killed several thousand people and repeatedly violated international law,” underline the six countries.
“Russia’s irresponsible revisionism and persistent refusal to end aggression and engage in meaningful negotiations are a challenge for peace, freedom and prosperity on the European continent and in the transatlantic space”, they add.
And although they emphasize that Putin “is increasingly dependent on partners like Iran and North Korea.” to maintain their illegal war”, they demand as “peremptory” that Europe be capable of defending itself, or even of developing a “greater deterrent capacity” against Moscow.
This “unprecedented” challenge pushes the six countries to commit to remaining “united with our European and transatlantic partners” to think and act “significantly on European security”. European countries, they insist, must play an even more important role in “ensure your own safety”.
Commitments
Spain, Germany, France, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom also send a message to the new Trump administration, reaffirming “the enduring role of a strong and united NATO as a cornerstone of European defense and security. As they emphasize, this must be based on “a strong transatlantic link and in an unfailing commitment to mutual defense”, guaranteed by Article 5 of the Treaty, but now in doubt.
Even if they also admit that Europe must assume “equitable distribution of burdens”as the former American president said during his first term. And above all, to dispel suspicions that Trump wants to change the entire paradigm of global security born after the Second World War, founded on the strength and deterrence of the Atlantic Alliance.
The signatories therefore want to strengthen NATO “increase in security and defense spending” by European countries. And also strengthen Europe’s security and defense, “using all the tools at our disposal, including the economic and financial power of the EU and strengthening Europe’s industrial base.”
This means that they will search “innovative financing”like what they want to ask of the European Investment Bank, chaired by the Spaniard Nadia CalvinoAnd “barriers to trade and investment in defense will be removed”.
This involves Europeans definitively committing to investing in their “critical military capabilities, including air defense, high precision attacksdrones and integrated logistics, as well as in critical infrastructure and cyber defensein research and development and in the use of new technologies.
5G+ foreign ministers also aim not only at traditional warfare, but also at “improving resistance capacity”. cognitive warfare already at hybrid threats in Europe”, including through relevant EU mechanisms, “and promote the resilience of our societies”.
The global conflict
Albares participated in this meeting, the same day that his colleague from the Ministry of Defense, Marguerite Roblesrecognized that “we are already in a global conflict” after the incorporation of North Korean soldiers into Russian ranks during the invasion of Ukraine. Thus, the Spanish minister and his five other colleagues undertake to “further intensify military, economic and financial support for kyiv”.
They also celebrate “with satisfaction” the $50 billion loan that the G7 announced to ensure that Ukraine has sufficient resources to wage war and defend itself against Russian aggression in 2025.
The signatories will maintain their “strong” support for a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, based on the United Nations Charter, reaffirming that peace “can only be negotiated with Ukraine, with European, American and G7 partners at its side”. On condition, furthermore, that “the aggressor assumes the consequences, also financial, of his illegal acts which violate the norms” of the Charter of the United Nations.
5G+ will continuedeter Russiafrustrating Putin’s ability to continue his war of aggression and limiting the strengthening of Russian military capabilities, even through restrictive measures“.
The aim is to act and ensure that European citizens “live in peace, freedom and prosperity”, something for which they consider “fundamental to achieving greater integration between EU member states, A closer cooperation between the EU and the UKand greater collaboration between NATO and the European Union.
