site.btaRussia Is a Threat to Global Security, Says EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs

Russia is a threat to global security, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said Tuesday in an address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Her remarks come ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague next week.

“Russia is already a direct threat to the European Union. Russia is violating our airspace, conducting provocative military manoeuvres near EU borders, targeting our trains and planes, attacking our pipelines under sea... assaulting our industry, including companies supporting Ukraine, and is recruiting criminals to carry out sabotage attacks,” Kallas said.

She emphasized that Russia is steadily building up its military forces and expanding its nuclear arsenal. “Last year, Russia spent more on defence than the European Union combined. This year, Russia is spending more on defence than its own healthcare, education, and social policy combined, this is a long term plan for a long term aggression. You don't spend that much on military if you do not plan to use it,” she added.

According to Kallas, Russia's threat to transatlantic unity and security is a problem for every European country. “Every NATO ally must be thinking about defence. In 2014, NATO countries pledged to actually invest over 2% of their GDP in defence by 2024, but in one year the geopolitical situation has shifted so dramatically that we are now looking at the 5% target. I don't believe that there is any threat that we can't overcome if we act together and with our NATO allies,” she said.

Kallas also noted that the national escape clause of the Stability and Growth Pact provides budgetary space for Member States to spend more on defence. “This could mobilize up to EUR 650 billion for defence over the next four years and at 1.5% of GDP,” she added.