If You Are Not at the Table, Then You Are on the Menu: Borrell's Statement

At this moment, Europe lacks the necessary capabilities to defend itself independently. This opinion was expressed by the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, in an interview with Telecinco.

"We do not understand what the current geopolitical distribution of power means or the economic and technological threats arising from international competition," said the EU's top representative. According to him, the order that remained after the end of the 'Cold War' is no longer functioning.

"You need to have the capability to defend yourself, and Europe does not have that today," added Borrell. He believes that the EU's security cannot depend on who will be the next president of the United States, as American voters may elect someone who has little desire to protect Europe.

"Everyone prefers, and I do too, to spend money on butter, as they said during World War I—'butter is better than cannons.' But if you do not have cannons, one day you will be left without butter," Borrell stated, adding that while he does not presume that a war will be imminent, he is convinced that Europe is not investing sufficient political energy, material, and human resources to protect itself.

He emphasized that only by uniting will Europe have the necessary weight to influence future events. "If you are not at the table, then you are on the menu," Borrell concluded.