US seeks to divide Europe and weaken EU, Kaja Kallas says
Kaja Kallas (photo: Getty Images)
The United States wants to divide Europe because its leadership does not like the EU. European leaders should understand this, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said, Financial Times reports.
"What I think is actually important for everybody (countries – ed.) to understand is that the US has been very clear that they want to divide Europe. They don't like the European Union," Kallas said.
According to her, Washington is using tactics that are used by opponents of the EU. She also acknowledged that policies of US President Donald Trump have strengthened the positions of France and other countries that support a more autonomous Europe, primarily in the defense sector.
At the same time, she warned that an overly rapid transition to such a model could also prove counterproductive.
The head of EU diplomacy added that Europe needs to simultaneously reduce dependence on the United States and maintain cooperation with it.
According to her, European countries still cannot refuse purchases of American military products, but they should simultaneously increase investments in their own defense industry.
Cooperation between Europe and the United States
Earlier, European officials tried to persuade the administration of the US president to reconsider the decision to reduce American military presence in Europe.
US President Donald Trump said he wants to reduce the American military contingent in Europe by 20%.
In spring, it became known that Europeans fear they will not be warned and will learn from the media that thousands of American servicemen are being withdrawn from the continent.
