EU warns Trump: We must strengthen our security.

The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, stated that Europe needs to be prepared for geopolitical realities that may change following Donald Trump's election as the 47th President of the United States and should strengthen its defense policy.

In a session held at the European Parliament (EP) General Assembly in Brussels on the impact of the presidential election results in the US on EU-US relations, Borrell, speaking on behalf of the EU Commission, noted that the change in the US would affect global dynamics and expressed that this situation would lead to significant changes in EU-US relations. Borrell mentioned the possibility that Trump might pursue a different policy once in office, despite the messages he conveyed during his campaign that could jeopardize transatlantic economies and relations, stating that therefore, speculation about the future should not be made.

"WE MUST BE CALM AND ALERT"

Borrell said, "I cannot speculate on what steps President Trump will take. The only thing I can say is that we need to be prepared for what could happen, to be calm and alert. We should not give the impression of being paralyzed like a deer caught in the headlights of a car."

"WE MUST STRENGTHEN OUR SECURITY"

Pointing to the slow increase in Europe's defense spending since Trump's first term, Borrell stated, "Trump's re-election should clearly indicate that we need to strengthen our security and take our destiny into our own hands." Borrell called on the EU to be ready for new geopolitical realities, saying, "This is not the end of the world, but the beginning of a different world."

EUROPE'S SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE

Addressing concerns about possible changes in US support for Ukraine under the Trump administration, Borrell emphasized that Europe must continue to fulfill its promises to support Ukraine in any case and brought up the idea of using revenue from frozen Russian assets for Ukraine if necessary.

Borrell stated that the EU should not remain merely an economically dependent union on NATO, but instead should strengthen its "strategic compass" to take on a complementary military role to NATO and ensure that Europe can independently protect its own security interests. The High Representative expressed, "The EU is not just an economic union, but also a political union, and we have responsibilities in defense. This is not just about producing weapons and ammunition. It is related to that, but not only that, and we cannot outsource our security forever. I think this is what we need to do in the face of President Trump."

DISSENSIONS AMONG MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT

Liberal and center-right members of parliament who spoke at the session expressed a series of concerns regarding potential changes in US policy, particularly in trade, security, and economic cooperation, calling for the strengthening of Europe's economic, military, and strategic autonomy to overcome these challenges. Pointing to possible diplomatic changes under the new US administration, the members of parliament stated that support for Ukraine must continue, and despite potential disagreements on issues such as climate change, the Middle East, and relations with China, they called for Washington to adopt a "strategic but cautious approach."

On the other hand, far-right members of parliament expressed their satisfaction with Trump's election victory, arguing that Trump's election, which "defends the sovereignty of the country," should serve as an example for Europe.