EU, von der Leyen: "The time for illusions is over, a surge in defense is needed now"

Strasbourg (France), March 11 (LaPresse) – "The European security order is shaken, and many of our illusions have been shattered. After the end of the Cold War, some believed that Russia could be integrated into the economic and security architecture of Europe. While others hoped that we could indefinitely count on America's full protection. And so, we let our guard down." This is what European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her speech on the recent European Council and defense at the European Parliament. "We cut our defense spending from a routine average of over 3% to less than half. We thought we were enjoying a peace dividend. But in reality, we were just managing a security deficit. The time for illusions is over. Europe is called to take greater responsibility for its own defense. Not in the distant future, but today. Not with gradual steps, but with the courage that the situation requires. We need a surge in European defense. And we need it now," she emphasized.