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Today in Focus

Can Europe defend itself alone?

Mar 11, 2025
Jon Henley, the Guardian's Europe correspondent, discusses the EU's ambitious new defense initiatives in light of escalating threats from Russia. He delves into transformative shifts in European defense policy and financial commitments among EU nations. The conversation reveals the challenges of balancing national sovereignty with collective security, especially amid changing geopolitical dynamics. Henley also highlights the dilemmas faced by nationalist parties in supporting Ukraine and the future of European defense cooperation in a waning US influence.
27:16

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Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Europe's shift towards self-reliant defense reflects a critical response to diminishing reliance on U.S. support amid rising threats from Russia.
  • The EU's 'Rearm Europe' initiative aims to significantly enhance military capabilities, yet faces challenges in securing unified financial contributions from member states.

Deep dives

The Shift in European Security Landscape

Europe is experiencing a fundamental shift in its security dynamics, driven by a realization that reliance on the United States for defense may no longer be viable. This shift has prompted European leaders to reassess their strategies, leading to a frantic exploration of new defense mechanisms. Notably, this moment has been deemed a 'Darwinian' crisis, marking a critical juncture where Europe must strengthen its own defense capabilities amidst growing military threats from Russia. Emmanuel Macron's recent speech encapsulated this urgency, emphasizing the need for Europe to arm itself in response to potential aggressions beyond its borders.

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