Jean-Claude Juncker says EU can no longer rely on US for security and needs to build its own army
EU chief repeated calls for defence overhaul hours after Donald Trump victory
THE EU can no longer rely on the US and needs to start building its own army, Jean-Claude Juncker declared yesterday.
Hours after Donald Trump’s election victory the European Commission President repeated calls for an overhaul of defence strategy insisting the EU must push forward with plans for a Euro military.
Mr Juncker said although Europe has “a lot to thank the Americans for”, the bloc needs much more security as soon as possible.
Speaking in Berlin he said: “We need more security in Europe. We need it now.
“The idea that the Americans will eternally see to European security is not true.
“Independent of the outcome of the US election, the Americans will not see to Europe’s security forever.
“We have to do it ourselves which is why we need a new approach to building a European security union with the end goal of establishing a European army.”
Earlier this year he outlined plans for the EU to have a military HQ in Brussels with its own weapons , assets and a 100,000 strong civilian corps of young people to tackle emergencies.
German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen has also backed an EU army.
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She declared she was in “deep shock” after Trump’s win believing it is a threat to Nato’s mutual defence pact.
Mrs von der Layen said the continent must now be prepared to defend itself.
In the summer Donald Trump cast doubt over America’s future commitment to Nato.
He accused “many” Nato members of not pulling their weight by paying their bills, saying: “Many NATO nations are not making payments, are not making what they’re supposed to make. That’s a big thing. You can’t say forget that.”