Germany Starts Calling for EU's Responsibility for Own Defense Amid Trump Win

BERLIN (Sputnik) — She added that Europe needed both the European Union and NATO, as both organizations could complement each other and should better coordinate their efforts.

"Without regard to the US election, we have always understood that Europe should take more responsibility upon itself both in NATO, as NATO's European part, and in the European Union, as the European defense union," the minister said, adding that it was necessary to show will and take the first step in this sphere.

The European Union is now revising its defense strategy, discussing prospects of establishing the bloc's army. The plan, which goes back to 1950, was revived in March 2015 by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who said the bloc needed its own European army to respond to threats posed to EU member states. Major proponents of such a EU-wide army are Germany, France and Italy.

The discussions of Europe's defense have become more active following the victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential election. During the presidential race, the politician had repeatedly stated that the United States should decrease the support of other NATO member states and protect only those members of the alliance, who "fulfill their obligations" in respect to Washington.