Kallas: ‘Prepare for the worst to prevent war, Europe must do more’

EU High Representative stresses urgency to increase military spending and support for Ukraine

EU High Representative Kaja Kallas emphasised the importance of a coordinated approach among the 27 member states to ensure the security of the Union. During the European Defence Agency’s annual conference in Brussels, Kallas reiterated that Europe does not need a single army, but national armies capable of working in synergy to prevent and deal with conflicts.

‘We need to spend more not only to prevent war, but to prepare for it,’ he said, stressing the need to enhance European industrial and technological capabilities to support defence efforts.

Support for Ukraine and the Russian threat

Kallas called Ukraine the ‘European defence front,’ urging faster and more decisive support for Kiev. According to the High Representative, Russia represents an existential threat to Europe, with a military economy capable of producing more munitions in three months than European industry can do in a year.

‘Russia is not invincible, but time is not on our side. We need more collective efforts,’ he warned, adding that the 16th sanctions package against Moscow is in the pipeline.

Donald Tusk’s vision

Speaking in the European Parliament, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk sent a message to the member states, calling on them to take the issue of security into their own hands. Quoting John F. Kennedy, he stressed that Europe must ask itself what it can do for its own security, instead of relying on the United States.

‘The age of comfort is over. We must radically increase defence spending, not forever, but today, to secure the future of Ukraine, Europe and the whole world’.

Tusk welcomed as a positive challenge US President Donald Trump’s call to increase NATO countries’ military spending to 5 per cent of GDP.

A stronger Europe, a more valuable ally

Both leaders agreed on the need for a more decisive Europe, capable of clearly identifying threats and addressing its shortcomings. This is the only way for the EU to remain a strategic ally for the United States and to help ensure global stability.

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