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In a recent meeting, German politician Manfred Weber insisted that “the hour for Europe is only now striking” in international events after America withdrew from the war-torn country last month. Mr Weber, the leader of the European People’s Party in the EU Parliament, warned that if the EU withdraws from conflicts across the planet China and Russia “will fill the vacant spaces”.
He added: “Europe generally needs military capabilities.
“Take the cyberwar. In Lithuania or Latvia and beyond, Russia is waging a hybrid war. The Irish health system was recently paralysed.
“The attacks on public infrastructure are getting closer.
“(We need) a European task force with drones and a cyber brigade defending the online infrastructure.”
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“We need strength. We need the courage to take responsibility.”
The German politician went on to point to Mali as an example – where German and French military personnel are working alongside local forces to tackle an insurgency.
This close cooperation must continue and increase, he said.
“The new Federal Chancellor (of Germany) should talk to the French President about joint European missions,” he added.
“In the foreseeable future, the EU should jointly be able to secure an airport like the one in Kabul.
“Sorry, but in the past few days the EU was completely dumbfounded. It was a NATO mission. Actually, the hour for Europe is only now striking.
“That is why I find it very irritating that so far no special session of the European Council has been convened in which the European states coordinate.
“We are at a turning point for the western world. You shouldn’t be under any illusion.
“Everyone is looking to Washington. Even under Joe Biden, the basic orientation of ‘America first’ has only changed very little.
“Even Boris Johnson, the US’s closest ally, criticised that he was not informed in advance.
“That is why the question must finally be clarified whether Europe can stand on its own two feet.”
Additional reporting by Monika Pallenberg
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