European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called on Europe to take greater responsibility within NATO, citing strained relations with the United States under President Donald Trump.
Speaking at the European Defense Agency’s annual conference, Kallas said Trump has fundamentally shaken the transatlantic alliance.
She stressed that while Europe still wants strong ties with Washington, the continent can no longer assume the U.S. will remain its primary security guarantor.
We want strong trans-Atlantic ties.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) January 28, 2026
But Europe needs to adapt to new realities.
It is no longer Washington’s primary centre of gravity.
It’s time for Europe to step up and act with urgency.
We must strengthen our instruments, end fragmentation, close our gaps and join forces… pic.twitter.com/wnrmXOXCnB
Kallas said the shift in U.S. priorities is structural and long term. She argued that NATO must become “more European” and warned that no major power has survived by outsourcing its own defense.
She also cautioned against a return to power politics and spheres of influence. Her remarks highlight divisions in Europe.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte recently warned that Europe cannot deter Russia without U.S. backing and would need sharply higher defense spending to replace American support.
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TIPP Staff
TIPP Staff
TIPP Staff
TIPP Staff
