Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party, issued a stark warning that Europe has to brace for the possibility of the United States no longer defending it against potential threats, especially from Russia and Vladimir Putin.
“We were in a historic moment, and we had to understand and seize it,” said Weber, stressing the urgent need for Europe to bolster its defences in the coming months.
“We had to be able to defend ourselves independently,” he added, calling for the creation of a modern defence union, echoing the vision of the EU’s founding fathers.
Emphasising the necessity of collaboration to fend off hybrid attacks from adversaries like Russia and China in the digital realm, Weber claimed the EU also “needs a cyber defence brigade”.
Reflecting on his way to Kyiv, Weber criticised the EU’s slow and bureaucratic response, urging a shift to a “war economy” in procurement to expedite support for Ukraine.
“We were suffocating in our own bureaucratic rules,” Weber told Politico, stressing the need for decisive action as Europe faced the unsettling prospect of standing alone against potential threats.
In the wake of these warnings, Weber proposed concrete steps for a robust defence strategy.
He called for “a European pillar of defence,” advocating for the creation of a missile defence system capable of countering advanced threats like drones and high-tech missiles employed by Russia.
Weber’s visit to Kyiv also shed light on the EU’s unfulfilled promise to deliver one million rounds of shells to Ukraine.
Expressing frustration, he revealed that less than 500,000 rounds had been delivered, attributing the shortfall to political hurdles and bureaucratic inefficiencies.
“The basics are the one million rounds of ammunition that we haven’t delivered as Europeans,” said Weber, highlighting the need for a swift and decisive approach to support Ukraine, especially when faced with geopolitical challenges.
As Europe grapples with these critical issues, Weber’s warnings serve as a call to action for European leaders to prioritise a united and efficient defence strategy in the face of evolving geopolitical dynamics.
