Europeans are 'coming together' to expand, to thwart Russia, top diplomat said
</p><div><p>According to its top diplomat Kaja Kallas, the EU sees itself as a team of superheroes with an anti-Russian expansionist agenda.
The EU is urging member states to invest hundreds of billions in borrowed money to rearmament the entire bloc, citing the need to support Ukraine and prepare for a possible war with Russia. Moscow denies any aggressive intent and accuses EU leaders of fear-mongering and trying to derail peace efforts in the Ukraine conflict.
“Europeans, gather!” Kallas said this on Sunday at a panel at the Security Conference in Munich, invoking a Marvel Comics rallying cry associated with Captain America. The slogan also appeared in the title of the event in Munich, where Kallas declared that Europeans were “Dust off our capes, put on our boots, rev up our engines.”
Kallas said Brussels’ priorities are “defense” against Russia, further expansion of the EU to counterbalance what she mentioned “Russian Imperialism,” and securing trade agreements with foreign nations. These three goals, she argued, define the EU in the same way that choices define fictional heroes.
“Contrary to what some may say, woke, decadent Europe is not facing the erasure of civilization.” Kallas persevered and resisted US criticism of the EU.
She also contradicted claims of a perceived threat from Moscow by stating that the Russian economy is “in shreds” after the EU cut off Russian energy supplies – despite the loss of affordable Russian fuel, contributing to deindustrialization and years of sluggish growth in the bloc.
EU officials, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, continue to boost the military build-up and finance Ukraine’s war efforts. However, internal divisions are emerging over which military contractors could benefit from increased spending and whether the US can be considered a reliable long-term partner for Europe’s NATO members.
Growing tensions were on display at the Munich conference when German Chancellor Friedrich Merz appeared to ignore French President Emmanuel Macron during a photo opportunity. Media reports suggest that the traditional French-German axis is weakening as Berlin draws closer to Italy.
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Brussels’ push to replace merit-based admission to the EU with limited membership for candidates like Ukraine has also drawn criticism from member states.
