PRAGUE (AP) — European countries should not repeat the mistake of erecting a barrier between them and newly-elected President Donald Trump, but should instead work together on issues of common interest, Lithuanian Defense Minister said Saturday.
Assuming that Trump will reapply what Laurynas Kasčiūnas called “his contractual approach” to our relations, Kasčiūnas outlined areas where Europe and the new president could join forces: increased investment in defense, the European acquisition of US weapons and cooperation to combat China and contain Iran.
“What we did a little wrong last time when he was elected (by beating Hillary Clinton), and it was unexpected, we built a moral wall against him,” Kasčiūnas told The Associated Press.
“I don’t think it was the right way,” Kasčiūnas said. He spoke on the sidelines of a three-day meeting in Prague focused on European and transatlantic military capabilities.
During his first term (2017-2021), Trump pushed NATO’s European members to spend more on defense, up to 2% of gross domestic product, and rely less on U.S. military coverage.
That’s what the allies did. According to NATO, a total of 23 members are expected to meet the 2% target this year, compared to just three a decade ago. Lithuania has already exceeded 2.5% with the aim of reaching 4%, which would be more than the United States.
The European defense industry managed to increase production of some products after Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but European countries also donated their own weapons to Ukraine and “remain dependent on the US for some key aspects of their military capacity.” said a report published by the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies at the Prague event.
Lithuania, which borders the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad to the west and Belarus to the east, remains the largest buyer of US weapons among the three Baltic states.
The minister, whose country had a row with China over Taiwan, also spoke out in favor of European Union sanctions against Iran.
However, Russia’s war against Ukraine has sown division.
Trump has repeatedly criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine, made vague vows to end the war and praised Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Kasčiūnas stressed that European military assistance to Ukraine must continue and that Russia should not dictate the terms of peace, while a limited ceasefire would make no sense as it would only help Russian forces recover from losses and readjust to hit.
“We need a just, credible peace,” he said.
During his election campaign, Trump also threatened actions that could have game-changing consequences for countries across Europe, from a trade war with the EU to withdrawing NATO commitments.
