According to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, if the US continues to move towards isolationism, the EU may need to take on greater defense-related responsibilities in the years to come.
Talking at the Munich Security Conference, Mr Varadkar said: “I don’t know what the outcome of the next US presidential election is going to be, and whoever is in the White House, we will try to work with the President,” reports RTE.
“But thinking more long term, we have to be wise to the possibility that next year, in five year’s time, or maybe in nine years time, the US will have an administration that is more isolationist, and less willing to be committed to the Euro-Atlantic partnership. And that’s why it is important that the European Union does more when it comes to its own defence,” he added, reports RTE.
Reporters were informed by him that Ireland would be open to participating in any future peace negotiations with Ukraine.
However, he said: “I do need to be very clear: should there be any peace process in relation to Ukraine we have to be guided by President Zelensky and the Ukrainian government as to how and when that should take place,” reports RTE.
“We should never forget that this is a conflict in which Ukraine was attacked, and Ukraine has been partially occupied by Russia. So any ceasefire, any peace process, has to be guided by their wishes,” he added, reports RTE.
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.