EU security should not be entirely dependent on NATO and the US

In maintaining its own security, the European Union should rely primarily on its own forces and not on the security umbrella of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

This was stated by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, RBC-Ukraine reports, citing an interview with a CBC official.

"I do not want the security of France and the EU to depend on others. We should rely mainly on ourselves. We need a second “rescuer”: yes, there is NATO, but we also need to strengthen the EU's defense policy to have this other rescuer," Attal said.

He also noted that he did not want "our security, our choice, and our ability to support Ukraine to depend on a vote across the Atlantic."

Attal declined to comment on the implications for NATO's collective security of the likely re-election of Donald Trump as US president.

"I don't want to interfere in this election, but I will say that we in the EU should manage ourselves. We require European sovereignty, a European defense budget, and a defense policy," the French Prime Minister said.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 12/04/2024