EU Chief Downplays US National Security Strategy as Criticism Amid Strengthening of Ties
In a surprise move, Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, has asserted that Washington remains Europe's most significant ally despite criticism from the US in its new national security strategy. The document, published last week, portrays Europe as over-regulated and lacking self-confidence, while also criticizing the continent for what it sees as "civilisational erasure" due to immigration.
In a speech at the Doha Forum in Qatar on Saturday, Kallas sought to downplay these criticisms, stating that despite their validity, there are fundamental principles that still unite Europe and the US. She emphasized that the two entities have not always seen eye-to-eye on specific issues but stressed that they share an overall vision for cooperation.
Kallas also acknowledged a point made by Trump's Vice President JD Vance in a recent speech in Munich, where he claimed freedom of expression was receding across the continent, aligning himself with far-right parties. The EU chief argued that Europe has indeed underestimated its own power and suggested that it should be more self-assured.
Experts have welcomed Kallas' stance as an attempt to calm tensions between the US and Europe, which have been heightened in recent months due to disagreements over security strategy and immigration policies. According to Kristine Berzina, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund think-tank, the national security strategy amounts to significant political attacks on Washington's allies.
The new document is seen as part of an effort by the Trump administration to modernize the Monroe Doctrine in Latin America and assert US dominance in the region. Critics have argued that this approach exacerbates tensions with European partners, who are concerned about the implications for their own security interests.
Despite these criticisms, Kallas maintained that the EU remains committed to strengthening ties with Washington, particularly in areas such as security cooperation and counter-terrorism efforts. However, her comments also underscored the need for greater dialogue and understanding between the two entities on issues of mutual concern.
In a surprise move, Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, has asserted that Washington remains Europe's most significant ally despite criticism from the US in its new national security strategy. The document, published last week, portrays Europe as over-regulated and lacking self-confidence, while also criticizing the continent for what it sees as "civilisational erasure" due to immigration.
In a speech at the Doha Forum in Qatar on Saturday, Kallas sought to downplay these criticisms, stating that despite their validity, there are fundamental principles that still unite Europe and the US. She emphasized that the two entities have not always seen eye-to-eye on specific issues but stressed that they share an overall vision for cooperation.
Kallas also acknowledged a point made by Trump's Vice President JD Vance in a recent speech in Munich, where he claimed freedom of expression was receding across the continent, aligning himself with far-right parties. The EU chief argued that Europe has indeed underestimated its own power and suggested that it should be more self-assured.
Experts have welcomed Kallas' stance as an attempt to calm tensions between the US and Europe, which have been heightened in recent months due to disagreements over security strategy and immigration policies. According to Kristine Berzina, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund think-tank, the national security strategy amounts to significant political attacks on Washington's allies.
The new document is seen as part of an effort by the Trump administration to modernize the Monroe Doctrine in Latin America and assert US dominance in the region. Critics have argued that this approach exacerbates tensions with European partners, who are concerned about the implications for their own security interests.
Despite these criticisms, Kallas maintained that the EU remains committed to strengthening ties with Washington, particularly in areas such as security cooperation and counter-terrorism efforts. However, her comments also underscored the need for greater dialogue and understanding between the two entities on issues of mutual concern.
] Kallas thinkin she can just glue all these problems together with some EU-US cooperation 
meanwhile, Europe's still stuck in the same old "civilisational erasure" drama 
[GIF of a cat sitting on a couch, looking unimpressed 
] Experts say EU's not underestimating its power, it's just sleepwalking into another Cold War 
. Europe's got its own unique way of doing things, just like the US. You can't force someone to see eye-to-eye on everything, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be having open and honest conversations about your differences.
. It's easy to get caught up in the criticism and forget that our differences are what make us interesting and strong as individuals or nations. And let's not underestimate Europe's power - they've got a rich history of innovation and progress that can't be ignored.
. And that's exactly what Kallas is talking about: recognizing your own strengths and weaknesses, and working together to build bridges rather than walls. It's not always easy, but it's worth it in the end 
. And don't even get me started on this "civilisational erasure" nonsense... immigration's just part of modern life, not a zero-sum game to be played by politicians 
.
. Maybe she's right, maybe there are some fundamental principles they can agree on 
. But at the end of the day, trust is earned not given, and it'll take more than a few words from EU chief to rebuild that bridge 
.
even if we don't always agree on stuff. she also said europe needs to be more confident and self-assured, which is kinda true 
Like, yeah we get it, Europe can be a bit strict sometimes but thats just our way of being safe & responsible right? 
The thing is though, we also gotta listen to each other more & not just assume were all the same. 
so I was reading this news about EU chief Kallas saying that US national security strategy is just criticism and she's still super optimistic about their friendship 
. I think Kallas is trying to calm things down but at the same time, she's also kinda acknowledging that Europe has been a bit too soft on some things, you know? like being more self-assured and all that 
. And yeah, the EU has indeed underestimated its own power - we should be more confident in our ability to tackle global challenges on our own terms 
... it feels like she's trying to smooth things over without really addressing the underlying issues. And what about that comment about "civilisational erasure" - isn't that just code for xenophobia and racism? 
I hope Kallas is being more nuanced than this in her thinking