Josep Borrell assures that the invasion of Ukraine shows that. most European Union cannot continue depending on the rest of the world on key issues. In the military field, from the United States; in technology, from China and rare earth producing countries; and in the energy field, from regimes such as Russia, to which the EU entrusts 40% of its gas imports: “We believed that things would soften PutinBut it didn’t happen“.
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, at a conference at the Senate Palace in Madrid, strategic autonomy of the 27 this means taking the European project one step further.
According to Borrell, it is an alliance that should begin with the creation of an alliance at all levels. community army NATO was capable of responding to different challenges at the global level without having to wait for US approval.
“The EU must have military capabilities that allow it to act autonomously when others, namely the United States, do not see it necessary to intervene or believe it is not in its own interests,” the socialist said at an event organized by the EU. PSOE in the Upper House.
Of course, Borrell didn’t leave either. no doubt about commitment Continuing its existence between the Atlanticist project and European countries: “We are not only part of an alliance that we do not want to leave, but also We want to reinforceThe best way to do this is to provide strength not to be a weak partner and to have the ability to intervene on our own when the United States is not interested”.
It shows experience, says Borrell, Europe has always needed US support to act in critical situations, as in the former Yugoslavia or Libya, and now with the occupation of Ukraine, which “makes much more obvious” the need to have “our own military capacity”. “We can’t wait for others to come and take our chestnuts from the fire,” he said.
“You Can’t Avoid Us”
In addition, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy announced during his visit that the Commission is working to achieve its purpose. autonomy in digital matters“The Europeans lost,” he admitted, and the other powers knew how to take advantage of it.
“The US and China have taken the lead and we must reclaim this lost ground for strategic autonomy. we will not Google nor the European internet, but we must make the leap and descend upon the next technological generation. You cannot escape us,” he explained.
According to Borrell, something similar is happening in the energy case, which shows how a “European perspective” of doing business with a country can be possible. “softens” your posture when deciding how to guide its geopolitical strategy.
Specifically, explaining the example of Russia, the Spanish politician showed that: addictions like energy “became weapons”Thus, the Europeans confirmed to what extent they are vulnerable with the problem of Russian gas and lithium or rare earths.
For Josep Borrell, although Europe was the “best combination”, political freedom, economic progress, social solidarity and respect for private life“Europeans should be aware that they are also “very vulnerable” because of all these shortcomings.