Europe bashing: EU’s high diplomat rejects US speak of ‘civilisational erasure’

[ad_1] EU high diplomat Kaja Kallas pushed again Sunday in opposition to Europe "bashing" by america.

"Opposite to what some might say, woke, decadent Europe is just not going through civilisational erasure," Kallas mentioned on the final day of the Munich Safety Convention.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday reassured allies by saying Washington and Europe "belong collectively" – however insisted the continent should defend in opposition to mass immigration to guard its "civilisation".

"The message that we heard is that America and Europe are intertwined, have been previously and can be sooner or later. I feel that is essential," Kallas mentioned.

"It's also clear that we do not see eye to eye in all the problems, and it will stay the case," she mentioned.

Officers within the Trump period have repeatedly prolonged their very own heightened fears of immigration onto Europe, typically borrowing language from "substitute idea", the brainchild of a French novelist that has change into a rallying cry for the worldwide far proper.

In a Nationwide Safety Technique doc printed on December 5, the US administration notably warned in opposition to European "migration insurance policies which are reworking the continent and creating strife". "Ought to current tendencies proceed, the continent can be unrecognizable in 20 years or much less," the doc predicted.

Europeans "have been shocked to learn that they have been engaged in 'civilisational erasure'," French each day Le Monde wrote on the time.

The US doc went on to warn that "censorship of free speech and suppression of political opposition" was going down in Europe – regardless of European nations occupying all high 15 spots of the 2025 world Press Freedom Index from Reporters With out Borders whereas the US fell to a historic low in 57th place.

Learn extra How France's ‘nice substitute’ idea conquered the worldwide far proper

Russia is 'damaged' Kallas went on to say that Russia should be pressured to make concessions in talks to finish the Ukraine conflict.

"Let's be clear-eyed about Russia. Russia is not any superpower," Kallas mentioned, insisting the nation was "damaged".

"The best risk Russia presents proper now could be that it features extra on the negotiation desk than it has achieved on the battlefield."

The annual safety gathering in Munich has seen European officers insist the continent should take the lead on its defence within the face of an aggressive Russia and doubts over the reliability of america as President Donald Trump upends ties.

"There may be an pressing have to reclaim European company," Kallas mentioned.

She mentioned European defence "begins in Ukraine" and can rely on how the conflict ends. The EU high diplomat referred to as for the scale of Russia's navy to be capped, mentioned Moscow should pay for the harm it has induced and should be held accountable for conflict crimes.

France's Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad backed up the requires Europe to pay much less consideration to what the US says and deal with bolstering its personal capabilities.

"I feel the worst lesson we might draw from this weekend is to say, effectively, I can cling to some love phrases that I heard in a part of his speech and push the snooze button," Haddad mentioned of Rubio's deal with.

As a substitute, he mentioned Europe ought to "deal with what we will management, deal with our rearmament, on the assist for Ukraine and the risk that Russia poses to all of our democracies".