Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for Economics and Taxation, has spoken to CNBC about the need for the bloc to develop on the geopolitical stage as the United States and other Western allies take a step back.
“We are an economic superpower, but we cannot be completely absent from the geopolitical role,” he told CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick on Saturday at the European House Ambrosetti Forum.
Gentiloni saw what he called a “terrible” end to the war in Afghanistan in recent weeks as an example of the reduction of its commitments by the United States and others on the world stage. His comments add another voice to the argument that the EU should develop a common defense policy, which many see as a forerunner of a full EU army.
“I think we can live very well together,” Gentiloni said when asked if this would be a threat to NATO, whose members include some EU nations.
Undermining NATO is seen as one of the key reasons why the EU has not established its own army, as well as the different levels of defense spending within the bloc. Critics also distrust EU integration.
“NATO was born and formed primarily to deter Russia’s presence in Europe. These roles remain absolutely crucial. And personally I am also a strong supporter of NATO,” Gentiloni said.
“What I’m saying is that if the role of the European Union grows, if we have a good economic recovery, if we try to be at the forefront of climate transition and many other aspects of our ambition, we can’t be completely irrelevant and silent about these. geopolitical dynamics “.
French special forces soldiers stand guard near a military plane at Kabul airport on August 17, 2021, when they arrive to evacuate French and Afghan citizens after the impressive military capture of Afghanistan by the Taliban.
STR | AFP | Getty Images
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell went a step further this week and told reporters in Slovenia that the bloc should create a “first entry force” of 5,000 troops to reduce its dependence on the US
Two EU 1,500 troops were established in 2007, but they have never been deployed.
“Sometimes there are events that catalyze history, that create a breakthrough, and I think Afghanistan is one of those cases,” Borrell said, according to Reuters.
Chinese antagonism
When asked about Chinese antagonism and whether the EU would try to confront the Asian superpower as a bloc in the future, Gentiloni said this could ultimately benefit the US.
“There is economic cooperation [with China], trade cooperation, but we are different systems. It is inevitable that the model of a different capitalism, a capitalism that is not connected to democracy, to freedom, will be an alternative to the European model, “he said.
“And with such force we will be partners [the] US in this kind of confrontation, however [it’s] also in the interest of the US if this European partner is also geopolitically stronger and [has] more influence … We always describe Europe as a quiet superpower, Venus and Mars. OKAY, [the] Now is the time to give Venus some geopolitical power as well. “
At the same event, the French Minister of Finance, Bruno Le Maire, agreed that this development of a common defense policy could constitute a new position for Europe.
“A new geopolitical approach is needed for Europe,” Le Maire told CNBC at a news conference.
He added that the EU must now become a third geopolitical superpower alongside China and the United States.
“This is my deepest political conviction … we open our eyes, we are facing political threats,” he said.
“We can no longer rely solely on the protection of the United States. This is obvious, so we must be our own protection.”