German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that Europe must be able to stand on its own feet in security matters if NATO is to remain a transatlantic alliance, calling on member states to “focus on sovereignty and independence in every area.”
Speaking at the “Industry Day” event held in Berlin, Pistorius delivered important remarks on the future of NATO and Europe’s security architecture.
He emphasized that a process of “Europeanization” within NATO is necessary to preserve the strategic alliance between Europe and the United States, and stressed that member states should strengthen their sovereign capabilities.
“There is a simple formula for keeping the Americans by our side”
Calling on EU countries to take decisive steps in a wide range of areas from security to the economy, Pistorius said:
“We want to keep the Americans by our side. There is a very simple formula for that: Germany and Europe must become much more independent in security matters. In other words, NATO must become more European if it is to continue as a transatlantic alliance.
EU countries should now focus more on themselves; we must aim for greater sovereignty and independence in every field.”
“You cannot find a credit card that is not linked to the American system”
Giving a striking example of Europe’s dependence on external powers in critical infrastructure, particularly in payment systems, Pistorius continued:
“Digital sovereignty is only one of the areas we need to strengthen. Let me give you a concrete example: Try to find a credit card that is not connected to the American system—you won’t be able to.”