In front of the European Parliament located in Strasbourg (France), German Chancellor Angela Merkel supported French President Emmanuel Macron’s idea of a European army.
On Tuesday, Angela Merkel was invited to speak in front of the European Parliament. “The time when Europe could rely on others has passed”, she said, explaining why Europe needs its own military forces. Europe used to delegate its defense to NATO and the United States. Having this European army would allow the EU to have new powers on the international scene.
Angela Merkel also pointed out the lack of communication and cooperation between all the national military institutions spread in Europe. She said the idea of a “European Security Council” would definitely reinforce the European foreign policy. Its board would have a rotating Presidency.
Angela Merkel reminds us that “solidarity and tolerance” were two key values of the European Union. Nationalist parliamentarians booed her.
Donald Trump wrote some tweets about Macron’s and Merkel’s ideas. He said they are an affront to NATO.
Emmanuel Macron suggests building its own army to protect Europe against the U.S., China and Russia. But it was Germany in World Wars One & Two – How did that work out for France? They were starting to learn German in Paris before the U.S. came along. Pay for NATO or not!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 13 novembre 2018
