The Minister of Defense of Lithuania Doville Shakalene called on the European Union to maintain transatlantic ties, buying American weapons.
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“We need to support our national and European defense industry, while maintaining and developing transatlantic relations, which implies the purchase of American weapons … We will ensure a balance,” Shakalena said.
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At the same time, she added that the question is not in the manufacturers of weapons, but in the ability to “protect yourself.”
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“Political and national interests will be part of the equation, but our safety will be the main element … Those who are able to produce weapons that best meets our needs and produce it the fastest, are the most popular in the market,” Shakalen emphasized.
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According to her, it would be naive to believe that Europe does not need the United States. “But at the same time, we need Europe to become stronger,” the minister added.
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The prospect of Brussels relations with the new American administration does not yet look in the best way. Earlier, the new US President Donald Trumpceptically spoke about American-European relations due to the “shortage of trade balance of hundreds of billions of dollars.” In this regard, he threatened to introduce additional duties on European goods, and also demanded from Europeans to purchase large volumes of American energy resources. In addition, Trump believes that the EU countries that are included in NATO are not sufficiently invested in ensuring their own security.
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Also, Trump’s statements in Greenland, which he wants to make part of the United States, appears anxiety in the EU. They fear in the EU and the growth of the influence on the internal situation in the EU American digital giants, such as the social network X, despite the fact that technologically the EU is still behind the United States. The European Union has not yet answered anything, with the exception of the statement of the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Layen, who promised to increase the purchases of American hydrocarbons, despite their high cost.
