The former High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, has defended this Saturday the need for Europe to strengthen its defense capabilities and to do so jointly among member states.
During his speech at the Global Progressive Mobilisation, held in Barcelona, Borrell assured that the EU needs to act with greater coordination in military matters after years of reduction of strategic capabilities.
"We have disarmed ourselves"
The former head of European diplomacy warned that Europe has lost muscle in defense and summarized that situation with a clear idea: “We have disarmed”.
In his opinion, the new international context forces a review of that position, especially in a scenario marked by wars in the European environment, global tensions, and growing geopolitical competition.
Borrell defended that the European military reinforcement should not be done in a fragmented way, but with joint planning and greater integration among partners.
European strategic autonomy
The socialist leader insisted that the continent's security cannot depend exclusively on third-party actors and called for progress towards greater European strategic autonomy.
His words are framed within the open debate within the EU on increasing defense spending, common military industry, and Europe's role in an increasingly unstable international order.