US ‘most important’ partner, but EU must build ‘own capacity’

ANKARA (AA) – The US is the “most important partner” but the European Union must build its “own capacity,” the EU foreign policy chief has said, in the wake of concerns across European capitals about the future of transatlantic relations after the election of Donald Trump as president.

Following the fifth meeting of the European Political Community in Budapest, is meeting for in the Hungarian capital to seek ways to strengthen its economy and competitiveness.

Josep Borrell said the 27-member bloc cannot “outsource” its capacity of action.

“Certainly the US is our most important partner. It is a fact. It is a fact as a historical, cultural, and economic fact, like it or not, the US is our most important partner, economically, politically, culturally … We do not want to change. We want to continue being a strong partner of the US, but we have to build our own capacity,” Borrell told reporters before an informal summit of the European Council in Budapest.

The EU official said the “only recipe for Europe to survive is to be more united,” and emphasized the need for the bloc to build its “own security” capacities although it still counts on NATO.

“This security requires invest more in defense, but not only in defense, also in technology, in order to ensure our independency, and sovereignty. If you are not in the table, you will be in the menu. If you are not in the table of the geopolitical game, you will be in the menu,” Borrell added.

He said Ukraine also must “be in the table, not in the menu,” and announced a visit to Ukraine in the next few days to discuss with the Ukrainian authorities about Europe’s continuing support.