[ad_1]
germany poland
PARIS – The governments of Poland, France and Germany on Monday gave Europe greater capacity to support Ukraine, amid fears that former U.S. President Donald Trump will return to the White House and allow Russia to expand its influence. He vowed to make the country a security and defense powerhouse with the same its invasion of the continent;
The foreign ministers of the three countries met in La Celle Saint-Cloud, outside Paris, to discuss Ukraine among other issues. They discussed the revival of the so-called Weimar Triangle, a long-dormant regional grouping designed to foster cooperation between France, Germany, and Poland.
Polish Prime Minister Donald TuskThe prime minister, who met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin on Monday, said he wanted to “revitalize” Germany’s relations with its key European partners.
Insisting that the European Union become a “military power” in its own right, Tusk said: “There is no reason why our country is clearly inferior to Russia militarily. Therefore, it is imperative that we expand production and strengthen cooperation.” “This is an undisputed priority.”
This diplomatic push shocked many in Europe over the weekend, making it appear as if President Trump was inviting Russia to invade NATO countries that are not spending enough on their own defense. It happened after..
support local journalism
“‘You’re not paying? Are you a delinquent?'” Trump said. He spoke to an unidentified NATO member nation while he was president. “‘No, I’m not going to protect you. In fact, I’d encourage them to do whatever they want to do. You’ve got to pay the bills. You’ve got to pay the bills.’ ”
The Republican front-runner’s words at a campaign rally were particularly shocking for NATO frontline states like Poland, which experienced both German and Soviet occupation during World War II and then spent decades under Soviet control. It was spot on.Anxiety is growing over the ongoing war It is located just across the eastern border of Poland.
Mr. Scholz spoke alongside Mr. Tusk in Berlin and slammed Mr. Trump’s comments.
“NATO’s promise of protection has no limits. It’s all for one and one for all,” Scholz said, without mentioning the former president by name. “And let me be clear for current reasons: Relativizing NATO support guarantees is irresponsible, dangerous, and only in Russia’s interest.”
The prime minister added: “No one can get involved or ‘bargain’ with Europe’s security.”
Early Monday morning, Scholz put the new ammunition plant into operation.and emphasizes European efforts to expand weapons production.
Tusk also called on European countries to increase investment in military projects in order to “achieve as quickly as possible in the coming months a significant increase in air defense capabilities and a significant increase in ammunition production capacity.” Ta.
Asked about President Trump’s comments, Tusk said: “This should serve as a cold shower to all those who continue to underestimate this increasingly real threat facing Europe.” Ta.
President Macron met with Tusk in Paris and said after the leaders of the 27 EU member states signed a deal to provide Ukraine with 50 billion euros, “Europe’s will to provide further supplies and meet Ukraine’s needs is vital.” ” he said. ($54 billion) to support the war-torn economy.
This would “make it possible to create a security and defense force from Europe that will complement NATO and become a pillar of the Atlantic Alliance,” Macron said.
President Trump’s comments raised concerns that if re-elected, Russia could step up attacks on countries other than Ukraine. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg issues statement On Sunday, he said President Trump’s comments put the U.S. military and its allies at greater risk.
NATO does not require its 31 member states to pay their bills, but each country is expected to invest a certain percentage of its budget (ideally 2% of gross domestic product) in defense.
Some countries, like Poland, have long achieved their goals. After Russia invaded Ukraine about two years ago, other European countries also increased military spending.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, speaking in Rome, dismissed Trump’s threats as a “campaign joke” but said it was right for all NATO members to play their part. Italy has not yet reached its defense spending target of 2% of GDP.
“We need Europe to have its own military in order to have more influence within NATO,” he said. “We must move forward. Americans are rightly asking us to do our part, and we must take equal responsibility. ”
Germany, which has had a military-wary political culture since World War II, was often the target of President Trump’s ire during his term as president for failing to meet the 2% goal. announced plans to increase military spending in response to a full-scale invasion of China. Ukraine is on track to reach the benchmark this year.
France’s military budget has increased in recent years, reaching a level of about 2% of GDP.
Mr. Tusk returned to power as the central European country’s prime minister in December after eight years of rule by a conservative nationalist government that often took a hostile stance toward European allies, particularly Germany. As a result, Warsaw’s influence in Europe declined.
The Weimar Triangle was created in 1991 as a platform for political cooperation between the three countries, as Poland was emerging from decades of communism.
Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski said on Monday that he “met in a dramatic but solemn moment” with the foreign ministers of France and Germany. Russian President Vladimir Putin said: “We must not be allowed to win this war. We must fulfill our obligations to Ukraine.”
French Foreign Minister Stephane Séjournet said: “Every minute counts so that Europeans can absorb the impact of the scenario so well described by Donald Trump.”
[ad_2]
Source link
