In a speech made at the annual New Year’s reception for dignitaries at the Royal Palace, the Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist) warned that we need to prepare for a long period of geopolitical and economic insecurity. Mr De Wever added that security and stability in the world won’t just return on their own
PM tells dignitaries that we should prepare for a lengthy period of geopolitical and economic insecurity.
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The Belgian Prime Minister says that the war in Ukraine and the way in which the United States is treating Europe have served as a wakeup call to European leaders. Because “Europe is currently not in a position to defend its own sovereignty effectively”.
Mr De Wever added that while Europe is now making efforts to build up a strong defence industry “To be perfectly honest this will take many years to achieve. Until then we will remain vulnerable and it is this vulnerability that our biggest ally is currently trying to exploit”.
Earlier on Wednesday, Mr De Wever said in the Federal Parliament, where a debate is underway about whether the EU should become an autonomous military power as part of NATO, that “I am inclined to say ‘yes’. I think that we should be prepared for a far-reaching integration of our military into a larger entity”.