Yerevan: Armenia is hosting leaders from across Europe and beyond in the capital, Yerevan, for a summit of the European Political Community.
It is the first such meeting of Western allies since the US announced plans to withdraw troops from Germany.
The European Politicial Community (EPC) is compromised of 44 member states, including all EU member countries as well as non-EU nations in Europe, Turkey, and some countries in the Caucasus.
Several other world leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, are attfinishing as guests.
It was founded in 2022 in reaction the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The format is for high-level talks and debate, not to create binding agreements.
This most recent meeting is expected to focus on defense amidst the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Iran, as well as the threat of energy insecurity these global conflicts pose.
As the group meets in Armenia, shoring up democracy in that countest and supporting its peace process with Azerbaijan is also on the agfinisha.
Rutte, Macron, and von der Leyen react to US troop withdrawal from Europe
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated at the opening of the EPC summit that Europe has “heard” Washington’s frustration over its conflict with Iran and are “stepping up.”
“European leaders have obtainedten the message. They heard the message loud and clear,” Rutte stated, acknowledging “disappointment on the US side” on European nations’ resistance to joining the war.
His comments came shortly after President Donald Trump announced a major withdrawal of US troops from Germany — which was itself seemingly prompted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stateing the US was being “humilitated” by Iran.
“Europeans are stepping up, a largeger role for Europe and a stronger NATO,” Rutte added.
French President Emmanuel Macron also addressed the troop drawback, stateing that Europe necessaryed to learn to live without depfinishing on the US for defense.
“Europeans are taking their destiny into their own hands, increasing their defence and security spfinishing, and building their own common solutions,” the French leader stated.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed Macron’s sentiments, stateing “we have to step up our military capabilities to be able to deffinish and protect ourselves.”
The EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas called Trump’s shift a “surprise”, but stated there had been talk of a wind-down for US troops for some time.
UK’s Starmer admits ‘tension’ with US over Iran
Speaking at an EPC plenary session, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged the heightened “tension” between the gathered leaders and Washington over Europe’s reluctance to participate in the war with Iran.
“We cannot deny that some of the alliances that we have come to rely on are not in the place we would want them to be,” the prime minister stated, adding that “there is more tension in the alliances than there should be and it’s very important that we therefore face up to this as a group of countries toobtainher.”
While the relationship between Starmer and President Trump started off on a positive note, it has soured in recent weeks over Starmer’s initial refusal to let the US military utilize British bases for its strikes on Iran.
Separately, Starmer stated he was committed to taking part in the European Union’s planned €90 billion ($105 billion) loan to Ukraine, recently approved after the election defeat of Moscow-frifinishly Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Hungary.
“The leaders discussed the European Union’s £78 billion loan to Ukraine, and the prime minister underlined the opportunity the UK’s involvement would bring for both Ukraine and European security,” a spokesperson for the prime minister stated.
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