As US President Trump pursues his expansionist foreign policy, shaking the transatlantic alliance in the process, European Commission President von der Leyen delivered a speech on Tuesday, urging Europe to seize the opportunity to achieve greater independence.

Von der Leyen took the main stage at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on the same day, to elaborate on the concept of "European independence." She believes that powerful changes shaking the global order should be seen as catalysts for progress, not disasters.

At the beginning of her speech, von der Leyen pointed out, "It has been 55 years since the first Davos meeting," and mentioned "1971 was the year of the so-called 'Nixon Shock,' also the year when the dollar was decoupled from gold. In an instant, the Bretton Woods system and the entire post-war global economic order essentially collapsed. But this also had two major impacts. It inadvertently created conditions for the formation of a true global order in the future. At the same time, it served as a warning to Europe, making it realize the need to strengthen its economic and political strength. This is a warning for us to reduce dependence – in this case, dependence on foreign currencies."

Von der Leyen added, "There is no doubt that the world today is completely different. But I believe the lessons we have drawn remain the same: geopolitical shocks can – and must – become opportunities for Europe. In my view, the current transformation is actually an opportunity, even a necessity, to build a new type of European independence. This demand is not recent or a passive reaction to recent events, but a structural necessity that has long existed. Therefore, about a year ago, when I introduced the concept of 'European independence,' I was surprised by the skepticism at the time. But within less than a year, people now have truly reached a consensus. The speed and almost unimaginable scale of change have driven this shift, but its fundamental necessity remains unchanged."

Von der Leyen said, "The good news is: we acted immediately. Whether in energy, raw materials, defense, or digital areas, we are moving quickly. But the fact is, only by recognizing that this change is permanent can we seize this opportunity. Of course, nostalgia is part of human history. But nostalgia cannot bring back the old order. And delaying and hoping that everything will return to normal soon cannot solve our existing structural dependencies. So my point is: if this change is permanent, then Europe must also make permanent changes. Now is the time to seize this opportunity and build a new, independent Europe."

Von der Leyen emphasized in her speech, "In terms of trade, business, capital, and energy, Europe needs a sense of urgency. Our starting point is good. We have many leading companies in various fields, from wind energy to next-generation batteries, from aerospace to industrial machinery necessary for manufacturing chips or advanced weapons, everything is available. Our companies' application of artificial intelligence is on par with their American counterparts. Europe is participating in the competition for key future technologies. But as global competition becomes increasingly fierce, we must show real ambition – especially in those areas critical to our independence."

Von der Leyen continued, "Take defense as an example. In the past year, we have invested more in defense than in the past several decades combined. We have initiated a significant increase in defense spending – reaching 80 billion euros by 2030. Member states are increasing investments at an unprecedented speed. Since January 2022, this has caused the market value of European defense industry companies to triple. Now, we have three European leading defense technology startups valued at unicorn level. They are dedicated to developing artificial intelligence software and systems for battlefield intelligence, as well as advanced dual-use reconnaissance drones. Therefore, they are also driving innovation and investment in the European defense technology industrial base."

Von der Leyen pointed out, "All of this was unimaginable just a few years ago. This fully demonstrates that the connection between the economy and national security is closer than ever before. It also shows what we can achieve when Europeans have the determination matching our ambitions."

Von der Leyen emphasized, "This ambition is crucial for the security of our continent. Next month, we will mark the fourth anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Four years have passed, and Russia shows no signs of easing, no remorse, and no willingness to seek peace. On the contrary, Russia is intensifying attacks, and right now, every day, civilians are being killed. Last week, Russia bombed Ukraine's energy infrastructure, leaving millions without electricity, warmth, and water. This must stop."

Von der Leyen added, "We all hope for peace in Ukraine. We acknowledge President Trump's role in advancing the peace process and will work closely with the United States. We agree that Ukraine must be strong enough to return to the negotiation table. That is why we, Europeans, have decided to provide Ukraine with a loan of 90 billion euros for 2026 and 2027."

Von der Leyen stated, "With this support, we will ensure that Ukraine can: strengthen battlefield defenses; enhance the defensive capabilities needed for a peace agreement; and maintain the normal operation of basic public services. Most importantly, it reaffirms Europe's firm commitment to Ukraine's security, defense, and the future of Europe. At the same time, we have decided to permanently freeze Russian assets in Ukraine and retain the right to use them. This should serve as a warning to Russia and send a clear message to the world: Europe will always stand with Ukraine until a just and lasting peace is achieved."

Regarding the issue of Greenland, which is currently the most concerning topic in European public opinion, von der Leyen pointed out, "Europe is resolute on the security issues in the Arctic region. In this regard, our goals align with those of the United States. For example, our EU member state Finland – a newly joined NATO member – is selling its first icebreakers to the United States. This shows that we have the ability to deal with Arctic challenges, say, on standby. It shows that the northern NATO member countries now have Arctic forces ready to act at any time."

Von der Leyen said, "Most importantly, Arctic security can only be achieved through cooperation. That is why the proposed additional tariffs are wrong, especially between long-term allies. The EU and the US already reached a trade agreement in July of last year. In both political and commercial terms, once spoken, it is binding. When friends shake hands, the agreement carries weight."

Von der Leyen continued, "We see the American people not only as our allies but also as our friends. Pushing us into a downward spiral would only help both sides to exclude enemies in this strategic terrain (the Arctic). Therefore, our response will be unwavering, united, and moderate. But beyond that, we must also view this issue strategically. That is why we are developing a package of measures to support Arctic security."

Von der Leyen introduced, "First principle: complete solidarity with Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark. Their territorial sovereignty and integrity are non-negotiable. Second, we are working to promote large-scale investment in Greenland by Europe. We will cooperate with Greenland and Denmark to explore how to further support the local economy and infrastructure. Third, we will work with the US and all partners in broader areas. Arctic security. This obviously serves our common interests, and we will increase our investment. In particular, I believe we should use the growth in defense spending to enhance Europe's icebreaker capacity and equip other essential equipment for Arctic security."

Von der Leyen added, "Fourth, equally important, we need to cooperate with all regional partners to strengthen our common security. Therefore, we will explore how to strengthen our security partnerships with partners such as the UK, Canada, Norway, and Iceland. Finally, I believe Europe needs to adapt to the new security architecture and realities we face. Therefore, Europe is developing its own security strategy, and we plan to release it later this year. As part of this, we are also upgrading our Arctic strategy. And the core principle of this strategy is: the right to decide one's own future belongs to sovereign peoples."

At the end of her speech, von der Leyen said, "When I started preparing this year's speech, Arctic security was not a main issue. But in many ways, it is closely related to the broader views I have presented today. That is, Europe must accelerate its pace of self-reliance – from security to economy, from defense to democracy. We need to engage in dialogue with our friends and partners, and when necessary, even with adversaries. The key is that the world has undergone permanent changes. And we need to change accordingly."

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/7597478232425890313/

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