European Union’s diplomacy chief Kaja Kallas said on Saturday in Singapore that the continent increases defense spending after “hard love” by Trump’s administration and called for stronger ties to combat “China’s economic power”. According to AFP, TASR writes about it.
Kallas on the Security Forum of Shangri-La Dialogue responded to the comments of US Secretary of Defense Pet Hegseth, who called the duration of President Donald Trump on other military spending “hard love”.
Defense expenditure
“Still, it’s love, so it’s better than no love,” she said when she asked her about Hegset’s speech. Brussels’ relationship with Washington was not disturbed, she stressed, saying that she was personally talking to Hegseta on Friday. “You have heard his speech. In fact, it was quite positive about Europe, so there is certainly some love,” she said.
President Trump is constantly pushing NATO countries to increase defense spending. He demanded up to five percent of GDP and said Washington would no longer tolerate Darmožrač, AFP.
The security of Europe and the Pacific
Kallas said that “there are different countries in Europe, and some of us have long realized that we had to invest in defense”.
“The European Union has changed speed and reviewed our own paradigm as a peace project supported by a harsh defense,” said the European Union’s diplomacy chief. “It is good that we are doing more, but I want to emphasize that Europe’s security and Pacific security are very interconnected,” she added.
She pointed to Ukraine, where North Korean soldiers were already operating and China provided military material to Russia. “I still think that if you are worried about China, you should worry about Russia,” she said.
Partnerships in the region
Kallas said that the EU wants to build “partnerships in our common interest in the Indian-Pacific region, also in the field of defense and economy. According to her, the EU also brings economic power to the table. Kallas disagreed with the suggestions that Washington focuses on the Indian-Pacific region and Europe focused on its own affairs.
