The European Union needs to "revive" the mutual defense pact enshrined in its founding treaty, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the Munich Security Conference.
"Mutual defense is not an optional task for the European Union. It is an obligation under our own treaty," von der Leyen said in a speech at the conference.
"It is our collective obligation to stand by each other in the event of aggression, or simply put: one for all and all for one. And that is the meaning of Europe."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed the need to build "hard power" and be ready to fight if necessary, speaking at the Munich Security Conference dedicated to strengthening European defense and diplomatic ties.
"Today we are not at a crossroads, the path ahead is straight and it is clear that we must build our hard power, because it is the currency of this age," Starmer said, after Von der Leyen's opening remarks.
"We must be able to deter aggression, and if necessary, we must be prepared to fight, to do whatever is necessary to protect our people, our values and our way of life, and, as Europe, we must stand on our own two feet."
DON'T MISS IT
Bonus video:
