Spanish Defense Minister Backs Idea Of Creating European Army

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th November, 2018) Madrid supports French President Emmanuel Macron's push for creating a European army, Defense Minister Margarita Robles said on Thursday.

On November 6, in an interview with the Europe 1 radio station, Macron called for establishment of a European army that would "protect" the union from China, Russia and even the United States. To support his idea, he cited alleged attempts by outside forces to meddle in Europe's domestic affairs and cybersecurity.

"The Spanish government assesses this [idea] positively, like everything else that contributes to strengthening the European Union," Robles said, as quoted by the Vanguardia newspaper.

She however stressed that the project must be implemented within the framework of "maximum cooperation and integration" between the European Union and NATO.

Macron's idea has already been welcomed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who said that "the times when we could rely on others are over." She however stressed that the future EU army would complement NATO and in no way call into question Europe's ties with the alliance.

US President Donald Trump, in contrast, harshly slammed Macron's initiative, calling it "very insulting," and suggesting that "perhaps Europe should first pay its fair share of NATO, which the US subsidizes greatly."