Czech president: Europe must be ready to defend itself independently

Europe must be prepared to defend itself independently of the U.S. in the face of potential threats, Czech President Petr Pavel said on March 10, as reported by the Novinky online news portal.  

While maintaining a close alliance with the U.S. and NATO should remain a priority for the Czech Republic, the country must also focus on strengthening its own defense capabilities – both nationally and within the European Union – given the “changes in U.S. approaches to several key issues,” Pavel said in reference to demands of increased defense spending.  

U.S. President Donald Trump has been highly critical and transactional in his ongoing political rhetoric while questioning Washington’s commitment to NATO, the oldest and most successful defense alliance. 

“We must be ready for a scenario where the EU or part of Europe is left on its own. In that case, we will work closely with like-minded countries to ensure our defense,” the NATO member country’s president said.

Earlier, Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister Hakan Fidan urged Europe to unite and “develop its own center of gravity” in response to shifting U.S. policies. Ankara, he added, seeks to be part of a new European security framework that operates independently of Washington and NATO.  

Meanwhile, China has expressed support for Europe amid growing concerns over U.S. foreign policy, opposing any U.S.-Russia negotiations that exclude Ukraine and the EU.