The EU must arm itself, complete the internal market, and start speaking with one voice, said Pavel

Bled (Slovenia) – The European Union must increase its military capabilities, complete the internal market, and start speaking with one voice in order to play a relevant role in a changing world. The current state, where Europe relied on the security protection of the United States, is unsustainable. This was stated today by Czech President Petr Pavel at the Bled Strategic Forum. According to him, democracies are currently losing the battle against autocracies.

“If we want to preserve the European way of life, we must focus on building our own military capabilities that would support our political arguments, and also think about greater and better integration so that we speak with one voice,” said Pavel, who spoke in Bled as one of the main speakers. “If we act like a bunch of little boys, we will not succeed in this competition of big boys,” Pavel said. According to him, Europe could become irrelevant if it is unable to reform. The state in which Europe focused on its social and economic development under the security umbrella of the USA, rather than on its own security, is, according to Pavel, unsustainable.

The easiest way, according to Pavel, is not to create a European army separate from the North Atlantic Alliance, but to strengthen the European pillar of NATO. The goal is to increase European military capabilities, strengthen the European defense industry so that Europe is capable of replacing the USA in case Washington decides to engage elsewhere. “This will also help the United States act independently where they need to, for example in the Pacific,” Pavel said, adding that the military strengthening of Europe is not in any contradiction with the United States. “In fact, it helps the United States achieve their own goals. And at the same time, it helps us too,” he added.

He described the current international situation as a clash between democracies and autocracies, with autocracies currently winning this battle. “Democracies have not been able to convince the rest of the world between these two poles that the system of freedoms, the system of respect for international norms, and human rights is convincing enough for them to join,” the president believes. (September 2)