NATO’s dominant role as a security provider should not mean that Europe neglects its defense obligations, the Czech leader stressed.
Europe should reduce its dependence on the United States while strengthening the European component of NATO. Czech President Petr Pavel announced this on Tuesday, October 3, Politico reports.
“Reducing dependence on the United States and building strategic defense capabilities in Europe should be seen as our contribution to the transatlantic partnership,” said Pavel, speaking at the opening ceremony of the new academic year at the College of Europe in Bruges with students.
He noted that to achieve these goals, EU countries need to exceed two percent of defense spending.
Pavel, a former general and senior NATO leader, also supported the expansion of the bloc, which “should not be postponed until some hypothetical point in the future when the candidates fully correspond to our ideas.”
In the Czech Republic’s new defense strategy, the Russian Federation will be recognized as the “most serious threat to the country,” which will allow the authorities to strengthen the defense sector.
In Finland they believe that Russia is unpredictable and the threat from the Kremlin may increase.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.