Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Wednesday that Russia does not “stand a chance” against NATO, but the coalition needs to “stick together” against hostile Russia.
Ahead of a NATO summit in the Netherlands, where alliance members are under US pressure to substantially boost military budgets, Kallas cautioned that simply increasing defence spending would not be enough to deter Russia.
Why does Kaja Kallas believe NATO must unite?
“Today, against NATO and the EU, Russia doesn’t stand a chance. But we must stick together,”
Kallas told the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
“When NATO leaders meet next week, keeping unity in the alliance is as much a priority as spending more on defence.”
Why is the US commitment to NATO questioned?
Next week, NATO leaders are expected to agree on a significant hike in military budgets during their meeting in the Hague. However, the alliance, which comprises 23 of the European Union’s 27 member states, has been shaken by concerns over the United States’ reliability under President Donald Trump and its commitment to defending Europe. So far, the US president has been unable to secure a negotiated end to Russia’s war in Ukraine through talks with Moscow.
What does Kallas mean by “long-term aggression”?
Kallas emphasised on Wednesday that Europe and transatlantic security are at risk due to Russia’s military buildup.
“Last year, Russia spent more on defence than the EU combined. This year, Russia is spending more on defence than on its own health care, education, and social policy combined,”
She said.
“This is a long-term plan for long-term aggression. You don’t spend that much on military might if you’re not planning on using it.”
“The voices in this chamber only underline how many diverse opinions there are in Europe. But what unites us — what must keep uniting us — is a goal to keep our citizens safe,”
Kallas briefed MEPs.
