The return of Donald Trump at the White House and its consequences for global security monopolized the agenda of the summit of European political community which takes place this Thursday in Budapest. A forum which brings together the heads of state and government of 47 European countries: not only the members of the EU, but also the candidates for membership (including the Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky) and other associated countries such as the Norway, Switzerland or the United Kingdom. .United. The new NATO Secretary General was also invited to the meeting, Marc Rutte.
The former Dutch Prime Minister continued his speech in Budapest seduction offensive to convince Trump maintain its military and financial support for Ukraine. Rutte’s argument is that Russia’s war of aggression is part of a broader framework in which a new “axis of evil” is involved, which also includes North Korea, Iran and China. An “axis of evil” which not only endangers the security of Europe, but also represents a direct threat to the United States. Pyongyang has already sent soldiers to Russia and Moscow is providing technological aid in return.
“This role of North Korea essentially illustrates how These countries are working together: China, North Korea, Russia and of course Iran.. And this poses an increasing threat, not only to the European part of NATO, but also to the United States, because Russia gives the latest technologies to North Korea in exchange for aid from North Korea in the war against Ukraine,” said NATO Secretary General in Budapest.
“If Russia succeeded in Ukraine, we would have an emboldened Russia on our borderwhich would have made it possible to gain a territorial mass, which would have made it possible to gain the enormous Ukrainian defense force, but also the capacity of the Ukrainian people. This would therefore constitute a threat not only for Europe, for the European part of NATO, but also for the United States,” Rutte insisted.
The NATO secretary general wants to sit down with Donald Trump as soon as possible to “discuss how we can collectively address these threats and what we need to do more of.” In his strategy of flattering the Republican candidate (which has proven effective in the past), Rutte insisted that he “you are absolutely right” by demanding that Europeans increase their defense spending.
“I want to congratulate President Trump again on his re-election. It was truly a great success for him, as he also won the House (of Representatives) and the Senate. I look forward to working with him again When he was president, it was he who, within NATO, encouraged us to exceed 2% (of defense spending. Thanks to him, NATO – without counting the American figures – is at the level). above 2%. I firmly believe that this is his work, his success“, insisted the head of the Atlantic Alliance.
Also outgoing President of the European Council, Charles-Michelargued that Trump could not ignore Ukraine because it would have serious consequences for his own country. “I trust North American society. I’m sure they know that it is in their interest to be tough on authoritarian regimes. If the United States is weak on Russia, what is- what will this mean for China?
The rest of the European leaders who went to Budapest (the president of the government, Pedro Sánchez, stayed in Madrid because of DANA and the chancellor Olaf Scholz arrived late because of the fall of his coalition government) They also insisted on their desire to get along with Trump.. “We must do everything possible to maintain good relations with the United States, the transatlantic alliance is the most important alliance for us,” said the Danish Prime Minister. Mette Frederiksen.
At the same time, European leaders assume that they cannot depend on the American security umbrella and must do more on defense. “The future of Europe is in our hands, we must act now” said the President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.
“Our security is not something we want to outsource to others, particularly the United States. Europe must be able to do it itself. The security of the United States and the European Union would be better if we worked together and I hope we can work together. But we are not going to outsource our security,” Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo said.
“We must send a clear message to the United States and the new administration: we will support Ukraine as much and as long as it takes. This message must be clear and strong. Secondly, it is clear that Europe must do more and strengthen its own defense and security. This is an important message for Trump,” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said.
The French president, Emmanuel Macronsummarized the dilemma facing the EU in a conflict between carnivores and herbivores. “The world is made up of herbivores and carnivores. If we decide to remain herbivores, the carnivores will win and we will be a market for them. I think we have to choose to be omnivorous: we don’t want to be aggressive but we want to know how to defend ourselves. “But I don’t want Europe to be a huge theater inhabited by herbivores that carnivores, according to their agenda, come to devour.”
