Europe must step up amid ‘new realities’ of US relationship, says EU foreign policy chief – Europe live

2026-01-28 - 09:00

Kaja Kallas warns that shift in transatlantic system is ‘structural, not temporary’ and bloc must respond by raising defence spending EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius follows Kallas and he strikes very much the same tone of urgency as he outlines the bloc’s defence policies. He says the EU needs to prepare for diminished US presence in Europe, and rapidly build up its “independence” in defence “without delays” or excuses. “Let’s face it, Europe can be slow. Unanimity means we can not always act at the speed of relevance. Of course, there are policy differences among member states. This is all natural, but unanimity is also used by some as a bargaining tool. And it cannot be that one country’s veto defines the policy for others.” Continue reading...