Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen has linked European security to wider economic resilience, urging Europe to future-proof itself through jobs, health, and technology.
Speaking at the seventh meeting of the European Political Community, she asserted the need for Europe to create the jobs for the future, saying, “We have to reduce our dependencies.” He added, “We have to invest in new technologies and source the critical raw materials that are necessary.”
On migration, she pressed for tougher border measures, warning, “Uncontrolled migration is changing our societies, and it is our citizens that pays the price.”
Also, Frederiksen called on Europe and NATO to move with far greater urgency in strengthening both military and societal resilience against “Russian aggression and hybrid threats.”
She warned that despite widespread discussions about peace in Ukraine, Moscow’s attacks have not slowed.
“For the last few months, there has been much talk about peace in Ukraine, with meetings, pre-meetings and briefings about the meetings, and meanwhile, Russia continues its brutal attacks.
“It must be clear to everyone now: Russia will not stop until they are forced to do so. We have one major task ahead of us: we have to make our common Europe so strong that war against us becomes unthinkable, and we have to do it now.”
Mette Frederiksen
While acknowledging that most nations had stepped up defense efforts, she stressed that progress remained too slow.
“We are on our way, but we have to move much faster. We have to learn from Ukraine, your sense of urgency.”
Mette Frederiksen
Frederiksen underlined that the Kremlin’s strategy went beyond the battlefield, pointing to the use of hybrid tactics growing hybrid threats, posed by drones, misinformation, attacks on critical infrastructure, and “uncontrolled” migration.
“One day it is military drones. Another day it’s migrants being pushed across the borders … They are targeting critical infrastructure … misinformation … attempts to interfere in democratic elections.
“Security is, of course, not only a question about military means. It is a matter of our hearts and minds.”
Mette Frederiksen
Turning to the battlefield, Frederiksen argued that Russia’s key war aims had already failed.
“He wanted to capture Kyiv, he wanted to overthrow the Ukrainian government, and he wanted to tear Europe apart … After almost four years of full-scale war, Putin has not succeeded in any of that. The war is a Russian failure.”
Mette Frederiksen
Frederiksen also praised Ukraine’s Zelenskyy, praising Ukraine for “defending Ukraine against a merciless, full scale Russian aggression.” She said, “You have done what no one thought possible, and you have our steadfast support.”
Frederiksen turned to other leaders, as she warned, “I know that for some of you, the threat from Russia is very clear and very present. For others, it still seems further away, but none of us can no longer be naive.”
War Against Europe
Moreover, the Danish leader pointed out that the war “was never just about Ukraine,” asserting that it is about “Europe, all our nations, all our citizens, our values and our freedom.”
“Please just take one look at the history of our continent, from the expansion of the Russian Empire to Soviet tanks rolling across several borders during the cold war, shattering hopes of freedom. Recent history tells us the exact same story. So why shouldn’t it happen again?”
Mette Frederiksen
She stressed that Russia is now converting into a war economy, “using every means, every opportunity, to intimidate, to threaten and to divide us.”
She added that this is “unfortunately, enabled by China, with soldiers from North Korea and drones from Iran, and I see no signs that Putin and Russia’s imperial fever dream stops with Ukraine.”
She asserted that “it’s not charity, what we’re doing in Ukraine, it is a direct defence of our continent.”
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