As US President Donald Trump returns to the White House and US-EU relations face new tests, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the Munich Security Conference on the 14th that Europe must assume more responsibility for its own security and "must be more independent." She also pointed out that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's speech on the same occasion that day was "very reassuring."
European Commission President von der Leyen delivered a speech at the Munich Security Conference on the 14th. (Reuters)
According to reports from Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press and the Guardian, von der Leyen admitted in her speech that in the past, Europe's security issues "were not always regarded as its primary responsibility." She emphasized that Europe must now "step up", take responsibility for its own security, and develop a new security strategy to "recalibrate the way we use various policy tools."
She said that Europe "must be more independent", especially in the field of defense, and should be ready and willing to use its own power in a more decisive and proactive manner to safeguard security interests. To do this, Europe "needs a new set of norms that ensure it can always defend its territory, economy, democracy and way of life – this is the true meaning of independence".
Von der Leyen also pointed out that Europe must build core capabilities to support strategic autonomy, including capacity building in key areas such as space, intelligence and long-range strike. "I think the time has come for Europe's mutual defense provisions to really work."
Earlier in the day, Rubio emphasized at the same meeting that the United States and Europe should remain united, trying to alleviate external concerns about the direction of transatlantic relations under Trump's administration. When asked about Rubio's speech, von der Leyen said his speech was "very reassuring." She added that she and Rubio were "on the same page" in calling for Europe to strengthen its preparedness to deal with current challenges.
