The head of the Austrian Defense Ministry stressed the need for the EU to defend itself without the United States

The European Union (EU) must defend itself even without the United States. This was announced on Wednesday, March 19, by Austrian Defense Minister Claudia Tanner in an interview with the newspaper Die Presse.

"There is a tangible concern that the United States can no longer be seen as a patron power. Therefore, we in the EU must become able to protect ourselves," Tanner said.

She added that in the next five years, the main risks for the republic will be hybrid threats, including disinformation campaigns, as well as "the aggravation of the situation from Russia, especially in the Western Balkans."

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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on March 18 that Europe should have strong defenses by 2030, which requires rearmament and the development of capabilities for reliable deterrence. In particular, investments in the production of air and missile defense systems, as well as all modern types of drones and anti-drone systems, should be increased for this purpose.