The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, mentioned in a conference this Sunday that despite the differences between the European Union and the United States, both are 'allies.' Von der Leyen emphasized the importance of working together, highlighting that, despite differing opinions on some issues, common interests prevail over differences.
Regarding the relationship between the EU and the United States after Donald Trump's arrival at the White House, von der Leyen pointed out that while they are allies, all allies must take on their responsibilities. The President emphasized that the EU cannot depend solely on the United States for defense and expressed the necessity for European countries to increase their efforts in this regard.
Von der Leyen mentioned that the alliance between the EU and the United States does not imply that the same pattern of defense from past decades, where the burden mainly fell on the U.S., should be followed. The President underscored the importance of the EU increasing its defense spending, especially considering that several countries have not reached the NATO target of 2% of GDP in this area.
Regarding the relationship with China and the U.S., von der Leyen highlighted that these are completely different situations. The European leader is close to presenting legislative proposals for her plan to rearm the continent, aiming to mobilize up to 800 billion euros, mostly coming from national funds and loans financed with common debt.
Trump's arrival at the White House has been a significant driver for the EU to strengthen its defense in the face of uncertainty in guaranteeing its own security in a future peace scenario. Von der Leyen stressed that current geopolitical changes are generating instability in alliances, which has led the world into a new era of geostrategic competition.
The President of the European Commission reaffirmed Europe's openness to building new alliances, mentioning recent agreements with Mercosur, Mexico, and Switzerland. Von der Leyen pointed out that despite the challenges, the EU will continue to work on maintaining its open position and seek new international collaborations.
