Defense Europe, European capitals have been talking about it for decades. But since February 22, 2022 and the start of a war at the gates of Europe, this highly strategic subject has been at the center of discussions within the various institutions. “Russia’s war against Ukraine has moved the lines on the question of defence. Never have the debates and passions around the Europe of defense been so important”. This is the observation of Mounir Satouri, French environmental MEP. However, the fault lines persist. “The differences and disagreements between Germany and France are not new. For a long time, Germany and France have not had the same approach. The war has shifted the German position, which is much more interested in these questions of defence. Germany has always had a transatlantic tropism, Germany has always believed for its defence, no doubt a legacy of history, in NATO. While France has often supported the idea of European defence. »
“The only protection for the moment comes from the United States”
Different approaches that are still expressed today. Berlin launched within NATO “the European Sky Shield Initiative”, a European anti-missile shield, but which is supplied from the Americans for the medium-range missiles and from the Israelis for the long-range missiles. An initiative supported by the Baltic States and most of the Central European States. “All the former communist countries know very well that they are the next to be attacked. They know that the only protection at the moment comes from the United States. Don’t be naive! “, analyzes Željana ZOVKO, conservative Croatian MEP.
A strategic emancipation of Europeans
Paris is actively campaigning to give priority to the purchase of equipment produced in the European Union, in particular to promote and support the French defense industry. But beyond a matter of big money, it is obviously also a question of autonomy. “I am for the strategic emancipation of Europeans within NATO,” argues Mounir Satouri. “Our interests are not always those of the United States. And I remember the Trump period and the refocusing of the United States on itself, on its own interests and on China. Today, we have Biden, the war is happening in Europe, so our interests are the same as those of the United States, but it doesn’t have to last. But there is no question of being naive for the ecologist. “As long as we have not built a defense Europe, we will remain in NATO. But we have as Europeans the responsibility to build our strategic vision and to emancipate ourselves. And that we do not hesitate to say in a collective and strong way. The French elected representative hopes that several Heads of State will carry this voice during the next NATO summit to be held in Vilnius, capital of Lithuania, on July 11 and 12.
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2023-07-01 14:30:00
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