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Euronews
13-03-2025
- Business
- Euronews
French EU minister: Europe needs its own weapons to truly control its security
French Minister for European Affairs, Benjamin Haddad, tells Euronews that Europe must seize this historic moment to strengthen its military independence, particularly in light of the Trump administration's decision to withdraw military aid and intelligence from Ukraine. ADVERTISEMENT France is urging European nations to prioritise investment in arms manufacturers on the continent; and move away from US origin arms amid unprecedented spending on defence. French EU minister Benjamin Haddad said focusing on a preference for the European defence industry is the "only way for Europe to be autonomous" and in control of its own security. Concerns abound that US-origin weapons could be cut off by operators in the US, who could limit or control their usage by European countries. Haddad told Euronews that Europe needs to have control of the technology in order to have complete control of its use. If "you have the technological knowhow, you have the control of use", he told the Europe Conversation on Euronews. Haddad pointed to the recent wrangling with Ukraine over the use of long-range missiles fired into Russian territory. Up until recently, Ukraine was restricted from using weapons due to prohibitions imposed by US and European weapons donors. As a result, the Ukrainian military complained it was until recently "fighting with one hand behind its back". "Look at the debates we had over the long-range missiles sent to Ukraine," said Haddad. 'If you have American components and Americans decide they can't do deep strikes to be able to defend themselves against Russian targets, they can control the use, even though the European countries who donated the arms have agreed to it," he said. The EU announced a package investment proposal up to €800 billion for European defence in a bid to reinvigorate the European defence industry and provided renewed security for European countries. The EU's Rearm plan also included a €150 billion fund for radars, air defence, missiles and drones. France and other countries also believe the money should be circulated within the European economy as a means of reinvesting in European technology and job creation in the EU, as opposed to the US. "Politically you also need to show that trickles down in terms of re-industrialisation, in terms of factories, in terms of jobs, and not that it's funding defence factories in the Kentucky or Pennsylvania," he said.
Euronews
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Lithuanian defense minister urges Europe to be 'armed to the teeth' amid US-Russia talks
America's pivot towards more cooperation with Russia is the beginning of a 'very difficult process' and requires Europe to the 'armed to the teeth', said Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovilė Sakalienė talking to Euronew's Europe Conversation. 'We need to have instruments that are capable of ensuring that all the states that are on the borders of Nato are fully protected', she added. 'Because if infringement happens on one inch of territory of Lithuania, Latvia or Finland, then everybody falls'. Minister Sakalienė attended the NATO Defense Ministers Summit in Brussels on 12th and 13th February when US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told allies that Ukraine's ambition to join Nato, and return to its pre-2014 borders – before the Russian invasion were 'unrealistic'. Šakalienė emphasised that NATO now finds itself in a very difficult moment. 'We are in the beginning of a very difficult process where we will have to find specific ways to generate strength.' "Armed to the teeth" She said although Europe has increased spending on defense it was not 'matching the speed of Russian military industry, of Russian transition from peacetime to wartime economy, or of Russian assembly of troops at quite the threatening speed.' The 'good part of the message is that peace through strength was reiterated all around the room', she said of the meeting of Nato ministers with Hegseth. However recent pronouncements from the US are widely seen as a seismic change in America's approach to the traditional transatlantic relationship. In relation to the deployment of troops to Ukraine as part of a ceasefire, and ongoing talks between Russia and the US, Minister Sakalienė says its more important for Europe to be armed and ready. 'Talks are completely irrelevant right now. Funds and production is what is really relevant because as I said, if we really want to stand strong by Ukraine and if we really want to stand strong in the face of Russia's preparation for the next stages of imperial expansion, then we need to be armed to our teeth.' Exile in Siberia Lithuania which share a border with Russia has living memory of the 'horrors' of the Soviet Union. Minister Sakalienė said her mother 'barely survived' the harsh conditions of being exiled in Siberia. 'I come from a family that was persecuted by Russians. My mother was born in Siberia and barely survived. My family was imprisoned, tortured, murdered. We know that when Russians come, then your best case scenario is that you are imprisoned or deported.' 'But most likely you will be raped, tortured and murdered. And therefore, that is the threat that is actually looming over Europe right now. And if we understand that stopping the active frontline in Ukraine means that Russia will immediately accelerate its accumulation of forces that it is gathering for the next imperial stage expansion. That means that we have a very short time period to get ready.'
Euronews
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze hopes Trump's US will restore relations
In the interview for the Europe Conversation Kobakhidze said of a transparency law implemented in Georgia – heavily criticised by the US embassy under the Biden administration – that it simply involved 'submitting the annual financial declarations by the NGOs to the Ministry of Justice of Georgia'. He said of the decision by the Trump White House to suspend USAID, 'of course, these developments make us very optimistic that we can restore the partnership with the United States.' 'We have said, stated very clearly that Georgia is ready to restore the strategic partnership with the United States,' he added. Kobakhidze also said that he would like to restore the function of Georgia as a connector between Europe and Asia. 'We would like to further strengthen the partnership with relevant countries on both sides of the trade with Europe, with the United States. And at the same time with the countries in the South Caucasus, with Central Asian countries, with China,' he said, adding: 'I think these trends, the positive trends that we enjoy at this moment can promote the restoration of our strategic function.' As reported, Kobakhidze said in his first interview after the South Caucasus country hit pause on its EU accession talks, that he was still very optimistic that EU membership by 2030 is achievable. He said that Brussels needs to be more flexible in EU membership talks, that the ball was in Brussels' court, and that the bloc needed to be more flexible in its approach to new members. Kobakhidze was reappointed in November as prime minister by the ruling Georgian Dream party, whose disputed victory in October's parliamentary election has sparked massive demonstrations and led to an opposition boycott of parliament. Opposition forces — including Georgia's former president Salome Zourabichvili — have condemned the results as a "total falsification" of the vote. The European Parliament in November adopted a resolution condemning the vote and calling for new elections to be held under international supervision. The ruling party, which has been in power since 2012, has denied any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, protesters and critics have accused Georgian Dream — established by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire who made his fortune in Russia and is widely considered to be the country's de facto leader — of turning away from the West and towards Moscow. Kobakhidze told Euronews that Georgia had "no space for restoring diplomatic relations (with Russia) because of the occupation of our two historic regions". Moscow recognised the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states in 2008 after Russian troops repelled a Georgian attempt to retake South Ossetia in a brief war. The two breakaway territories make up 20% of Georgia's territory. "This territorial integrity is recognised by the international community and of course we have to defend our national interests in this respect, but our vision is peaceful," Kobakhidze said, adding that a "non-peaceful solution is absolutely impossible". When asked about Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the prospect of a peace agreement, Kobakhidze said there was "no alternative" to a ceasefire. Ukraine is "suffering a lot", the prime minister said, citing the loss of life, damage to infrastructure and Russia's occupation of large swathes of Ukrainian territory. "The international community should be fully concentrated on promoting this ceasefire agreement and peace," Kobakhidze said. "That's the key for improving the overall situation in the region and the world."
Euronews
06-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
EU holds cards when negotiating with Trump on tariffs, says ex-WTO chief Lamy
The EU holds several cards when it comes to negotiating its way out of economically harmful tariffs, former head of the WTO, Pascal Lamy has told Euronews' Europe Conversation. Brussels has been preparing for the likelihood of a second Trump term for several months ahead of his election, with the spectre of trade tariffs central to such preparations. 'They've been thinking about that for months. I mean, the notion that Trump would be president of the US appeared, unfortunately, in my view, quite some time ago,' said Lamy, who also served as EU Commissioner for Trade. 'There is a range of issues where we probably could open an interesting trans-Atlantic negotiation' which would allow Brussels to prevent the application of tariffs, he said. One example he cited is potentially lowering the tariffs for US cars into the EU – a sector Trump has continuously mentioned. Here 'he's got a crappy argument, and he's got a reasonable argument', according to Lamy. 'The crappy argument is 'there are plenty of Mercedes in in New York, zero Chevrolets in Berlin. This is a problem'," he said, adding: "Unless there are an equal number of Chevrolets in Berlin as Mercedes in New York it's a problem for Trump according to his 'crappy argument'." However, "where he's right is that the EU has an import tariff for cars of 10%, and the US has an import tariff for cars at 3%. 'So maybe we could accept a 5% or 6% or 7% or 8% tariff in the US, if they accept to lower their tariffs on things which we would like to export more to the US and which are not in his mind as a big problem," said Lamy. Trump gave an almost immediate reprieve of one month to Mexico and Canada after he announced 25% tariffs on both countries. It followed an agreement by each to bolster their borders amid the fight against the illegal migration and the importation of synthetic drug fentanyl. China retaliated with relatively minor tariffs after his announcement to target Beijing on Sunday alongside Canada and Mexico. China said it would apply 15% on US liquid natural gas and coal and an anti-monopoly investigation into Google. If negotiations between the EU and US on tariffs fail, Lamy said the EU should retaliate, which will have implications for US exporters.
Euronews
28-01-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Spanish Foreign Minister rejects Trump's plan to clean up Gaza
Gaza belongs to the Palestinians, who must remain there, Spain's foreign minister told Euronews' Europe Conversation, pushing back against recent remarks by US President Donald Trump. The US President called to "clean out" the Gaza Strip and to move its inhabitants to Jordan and Egypt, which both countries strongly rejected. Trump's idea runs counter to US foreign policy to date, which has so far favoured a two-state solution, also supported by the EU. 'Certainly, Gaza belongs to the Palestinian and the people living in Gaza, the Palestinian[s] living in Gaza must remain there and we must help them to rebuild a new life," said José Manuel Albares. "And, of course, we must keep an eye on violent settlers that kill also innocent Palestinians in the West Bank. Illegal settlements are against international law. United Nations have condemned it many, many times,' the Spanish foreign minister added. According to Albares, the international community must provide humanitarian aid, support through the UN, reconstruction assistance and "political support as soon as possible'. Albares also criticised European allies. 'There are some countries who will allow Netanyahu [to] come into their soil. Poland, Hungary, potentially France [E]ven though there's an arrest warrant for the International Criminal Court. So how has Europe done when it comes to protecting and defending international law regarding Palestine?' He believes that the EU should make its own policy regardless of what others do or think. 'I think we are spending too much time on what someone else says or thinks. What's important for me is what we are going to do, how united Europeans we are going to be, how united we are going to be around our values. And our values are very clear. Equal sovereignty of a states territorial integrity,' he said. The Spanish minister called for the EU to back UNRWA, the UN agency assisting Palestinians. Israel has said UNWRA must end operations and leave Jerusalem by January 30. A ceasefire is currently in place in Gaza after 15 months of war.
