© EPA-EFE/MOHAMMED BADRA Albarez believes that Europe must resist coercion.
As transatlantic relations evolve, Europe needs to establish its own consolidated military, according to Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Álvarez. He considers that acting as a deterrent is now vital, reports the Financial Times.
The comments from the Spanish foreign minister occurred in the context of threats from US President Donald Trump directed at Greenland, which is a territory of Denmark. The diplomat noted that leveraging the threat of force is not an acceptable “foreign policy tool.”
“It is abundantly clear that the American leadership possesses a novel perspective on transatlantic security… Hence, it is now more critical than ever for us to possess deterrent capabilities ourselves. We should progress toward a European military. I fully appreciate that this cannot be accomplished instantly, but if we assemble a group of willing nations when it pertains to safeguarding against external menaces to Europe, we are certainly capable of doing so independently, for the purpose of [our forces’] deterrent effect,” Albarez stated.
Just one day prior, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte asserted that Europe is incapable of defending itself without the backing of the United States. However, Albarez maintains that it is vital to ensure Europe can oppose being coerced. As he says, the continent is a significant economic force, and thus it needs to “ensure it evolves into a political power as well.”
“Not with the intention of transforming our strength into aggression… but to maintain all manner of preventative measures – economic, political, and security,” the diplomat elucidated.
Politico previously reported that NATO holds reservations concerning Secretary General Rutte's complimentary approach toward Trump.