Europe must strengthen its ability to defend itself: Scholz

17/2/2024 18:03

        Europe must strengthen its ability to defend itself regardless of who wins the upcoming U.S. elections or how the war in Ukraine turns out, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told a global security conference in Munich on Saturday.
        
        The three-day annual global gathering of politicians, diplomats and military officers comes as worries in Europe grow about U.S. commitment to helping Ukraine fend off Russia's full-scale invasion and to defending its allies more broadly.
        
        Former U.S. President Donald Trump has said he would not defend allies within the NATO western defence alliance who fail to spend enough on defence if re-elected later this year.
        
        Trump-supporting Republicans in Congress are also blocking aid for Ukraine's defence against Russia.