The EU’s High Representative Kaja Kallas gave a very strong pro-European speech today at the Munich Security Conference pushing back against the rhetoric on Europe propagated by MAGA and President Donald Trump’s administration. Vice-Commissioner Kallas pushed back against rhetoric spewed in the US Security Strategy which says that Europe is a civilisation in decline. The High Representative said that:
“Contrary to what some may say, “woke decadent” Europe is not facing civilizational erasure. In fact, people still want to join our club—and not just fellow Europeans. When I was in Canada last year, I was told that over 40% of Canadians have an interest in joining the European Union, so the waiting list is quite long. I just hope that those who have been waiting for quite some time will not have to wait for longer.”
In the discussion panel that followed, Vice-President Kallas also pushed back against last year’s criticism on Europe at the conference by JD Vance. In his first public appearance in Europe as US Vice-President, JD Vance disparaged his hosts last year by accusing Europe of attacking free speech. Vice-President Kallas said that “Coming from a country that is number 2 in the Press Freedom Index, hearing criticism regarding press freedom from a country (United States) that is 58th on this list is interesting.”
On Russia, she echoed the thoughts by other European leaders at the conference: that after losing up to 1.2 million men, Russia is not winning this war and it is neither a superpower. On the other hand, Europe can be a superpower if it is united. She also stressed that Europe should not allow Russia to gain an advantage in the battlefield during diplomatic talks. In addition, she reiterated her position in favour of strengthening as opposed to creating a new European army.
She also applauded Europe’s increasing expansion of its trade agreements and reiterated the importance of securing Europe’s borders in the east and the south with Russia remaining as Europe’s main security threat. She also highlighted the importance on the continuation of European enlargement and said that Poles today are 70% richer than Russians for choosing the European path.
She concluded by saying:
“We hear the call to action: Europeans assemble! And let me take more inspiration from the Marvel Universe: “Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.” Europe’s path is clear:
- Defend Europe
- Secure our neighbourhood
- And build our partnerships across the globe.
You can read the speech by the High Representative here.
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