Reuters, Brussels :
German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on European Union members on Thursday to increase their security and defence cooperation because there was no “guarantee of perpetuity” in relations with the United States.
Europe faced growing challenges within its own borders and in nearby regions, including migration, increasing terrorist threats, the war in Syria, violence in eastern Ukraine and poverty and famine in Africa, she said.
Merkel did not mention President-elect Donald Trump by name but clearly seemed to be referring to new US leader’s campaign trail comment that he would consider a country’s contributions to the NATO alliance before coming to their aid.
“I am convinced that Europe and the EU must learn to take more responsibility in the world in the future,” Merkel told students in Brussels after receiving honorary doctorate degrees from Belgium’s Leuven and Ghent universities.
“Let’s not fool ourselves: From the viewpoint of some of our traditional partners, and I’m thinking of transatlantic ties, there is no guarantee of perpetuity for close cooperation with us Europeans. We have to continue to work at that,” she said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel called on European Union members on Thursday to increase their security and defence cooperation because there was no “guarantee of perpetuity” in relations with the United States.
Europe faced growing challenges within its own borders and in nearby regions, including migration, increasing terrorist threats, the war in Syria, violence in eastern Ukraine and poverty and famine in Africa, she said.
Merkel did not mention President-elect Donald Trump by name but clearly seemed to be referring to new US leader’s campaign trail comment that he would consider a country’s contributions to the NATO alliance before coming to their aid.
“I am convinced that Europe and the EU must learn to take more responsibility in the world in the future,” Merkel told students in Brussels after receiving honorary doctorate degrees from Belgium’s Leuven and Ghent universities.
“Let’s not fool ourselves: From the viewpoint of some of our traditional partners, and I’m thinking of transatlantic ties, there is no guarantee of perpetuity for close cooperation with us Europeans. We have to continue to work at that,” she said.
