As of: February 27, 2024, 8:07 p.m
By: Moritz Maier
Comments
Press
Split
Union politician Thorsten Frei is calling for the EU to rethink its approach.
Frei says it doesn't matter who the next US president is - his focus will not be on Europe or Russia.
Berlin – The European elections are just around the corner, but a different vote is often the most important topic of conversation among politicians at the moment.
Because: A new US president will be elected in November.
Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire to reduce support for Europe and NATO as the next president.
But the Europeans can no longer rely on the likely other candidate Joe Biden, said the Union's First Parliamentary Managing Director in the Bundestag, Thorsten Frei, in an interview with
IPPEN.MEDIA
.
Against the backdrop of the Ukraine war: CDU politician criticizes the EU's defense budget for being too small
Frei wants a more competitive EU and is calling for “less dirigisme and less bureaucracy” in the run-up to the European elections on June 9th.
European security policy, which needs to become more independent, is also important for the CDU's number two in the Bundestag.
“It’s about relevance, but also very practical questions, such as how weapon systems fit together, how European armies are coordinated and can complement each other.”
Frei is particularly annoyed by the unequal defense budgets between the EU and the USA.
“We in the EU are proud that the member states will increase their spending on security and defense from 250 to 300 billion.
For comparison: the smaller economy of the USA has a defense budget of 877 billion euros.”
CDU politician Thorsten Frei: Europe must not rely on security from the USA
The CDU politician is therefore calling for a massive increase in defense spending in Germany.
Because, according to his argument, the Americans' military protective shield is becoming smaller.
“We cannot rely on the United States alone to ensure our security.
Incidentally, we have no right to this at all.” Frei still believes that close cooperation with the United States is important, but he predicts that the USA will withdraw more and more from European affairs.
“It goes without saying that an American president – whatever his name is – attaches importance to ensuring that the Americans do not pay for European security,” Frei said in an interview.
“There has been a shift in emphasis in the USA for years – away from Europe and towards the Indo-Pacific.
Because the number one rival is China, no longer Russia.
And that is the case regardless of who the president is.” Therefore, Europe must bear its own share, because the Americans will make their own decisions.
My news
Russia openly threatens to shoot down NATO jets – read “return of particularly aggressive attitude”.
Rumors about Putin's death: Kremlin spokesman gives new details
“The best armored personnel carriers of the war”: Ukraine gets a weapon with “high-tech features” read
This is how RAF terrorist Daniela Klette was able to go into hiding for 30 years: read “Grandmas and Grandpas who are adored”.
2 hours ago
German Leopard 2: Ukraine soldier ruthlessly names life-threatening vulnerabilities
Greens overtake SPD in new survey – Wagenknecht supposedly has to read with fear
Frei criticizes Chancellor Olaf Scholz's lack of support for Ukraine
Frei's described development of the USA against the background of the Russian attack on Ukraine is explosive.
The USA is by far Kiev's biggest supporter.
Frei and the Union have been calling for more money and weapons for Ukraine, as well as for the domestic Bundeswehr, for months.
The CDU and CSU accuse the traffic light coalition of providing too little and too slow military support for Ukraine.
The recent rejection by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) of the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles caused harsh criticism in parts of the opposition.
“You have to say clearly: the Chancellor’s hesitation and hesitation is costing lives,” says Frei about Scholz’s Ukraine policy.
The federal government must “finally provide the arms industry with orders, otherwise the companies cannot produce.
It’s about weapons for Ukraine, but also about our own Bundeswehr stocks.”