September 3, 2021–Disappointed about the way the U.S. military and political leadership withdrew from Afghanistan, European Union leaders said they have to strengthen their own defense capabilities and build stronger autonomy in foreign policy decisions.
“What we need is a strong and common voice in the international scene,” said David Sassoli, President of the European Parliament. “Europe must take up its own responsibility, must have a voice, which can be heard, and must set and protect its own interests.”
-Sept. 1 at the Bled Strategic Forum
Reduce Reliance and Strengthen Auonomy
President of the European Council Charles Michel, said the “chaotic withdraw from Afghanistan” forces European leaders to “reduce our dependencies and strengthen our strategic autonomy.”
Yesterday, Michel released a fuller statement. He said the NATO alliance got involved with Afghanistan to eradicate terrorism from the country and build up the nation. In the end, neither succeeded.
“Choosing full solidarity with their US ally, European countries took on much of the military, civilian, financial or humanitarian effort devoted to Afghanistan and to Afghans,” Michel said. “The events of the past 20 days reveal a tragic legacy for this dual objective. The state we patiently tried to construct proved to be a house of cards. And the attack at Kabul airport showed that Afghanistan continues to be a haven of choice for terrorists who, over the past 20 years, have also gained footholds elsewhere, particularly in Africa.”
-President of the European Council Charles Michel in Sept. 2, 2021 newsletter
While both leaders said they support continuing to engage in the TransAtlantic alliance, we might see Europe asset itself more in foreign policy decision making.
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