Russia is posing an existential threat to the European Union's security and the only way to address that is to increase spending on defense, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday, adding that the EU had for too long offered Russia alternatives.
"Russia poses an existential threat to our security today, tomorrow and for as long as we underinvest in our defense," she said during a speech at the annual conference of the European Defense Agency (EDA).
"People say I'm a 'Russia hawk'. I think I'm simply realistic about Russia," Reuters quoted Kallas as saying.
Kallas, one of EU's most vocal opponents to Russian President Vladimir Putin, also acknowledged US President Donald Trump was right in saying that EU members don't spend enough on defense.
Trump said earlier this month NATO members should spend 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defense – a huge increase from the current 2% goal and a level that no NATO country, including the United States, currently reaches.
"Time is not on Russia's side. But it's not necessarily on ours either. Because we are not yet doing enough. There should be no doubt in any of our minds that we must spend more to prevent war. But we also need to prepare for war," Kallas said.
EU's Kallas: Russia is Posing an Existential Threat to Our Security
Head of the European Defence Agency (EDA) and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas delivers a keynote speech during the EDA Annual Conference 'New Horizons in EU Defence', in Brussels, Belgium, 22 January 2025. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET
EU's Kallas: Russia is Posing an Existential Threat to Our Security
Head of the European Defence Agency (EDA) and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas delivers a keynote speech during the EDA Annual Conference 'New Horizons in EU Defence', in Brussels, Belgium, 22 January 2025. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET
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