EU foreign policy chief criticises US for 'fashionable Euro-bashing'

The EU’s foreign policy chief denied claims levelled by the US that Europe was facing civilisational erasure, rejecting what she condemned as “fashionable Euro-bashing” by Washington.

- Patrick Wintour

Kaja Kallas also said the US was discovering that it could not settle the war in Ukraine without Europe’s involvement and consent.

Her remarks capped a difficult three-day Munich Security Conference attended by world leaders and security officials, where the health of the transatlantic alliance, a stronger European pillar in Nato and the Ukraine peace talks dominated discussions.

In his speech on Saturday, the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, interlaced amore diplomatic tone than of late with a firm message that Washington would only work with Europe if it changed to accommodate US leadership on mass migration, free trade and greater European defence spending.

Kallas, speaking on the last day of the conference yesterday, suggested his remarks were directed at a domestic US audience.

“Euro-bashing” is now “very fashionable” despite all “the good things that Europe actually has to offer,” Kallas said. “When I travel around the world, Isee countries that look up to us because we represent values that are still highly regarded.