Every story refers to another story, which in turn refers to another story. Almost everyone that Josep Borrell, head of European diplomacy, addresses in this interview refers to the seventh circle of the Divine Comedy: that of the violent. A war in the northern neighborhood is just two years old: in Ukraine. Another in the Middle East, in Gaza, is on the path to catastrophe. A hurricane is brewing in the West, Donald Trump's possible victory in the United States. And pressure on the south coast with an impending migration crisis, to which the EU is responding with an idea from Goebbels: “Fortress Europe”, with more than 1,200 kilometers of supposedly impenetrable walls. On his way to the age of 77, Borrell (La Pobla de Segur, Lleida) avoids the stuffy language of European Orthodoxy and, in the face of all these risks in the four directions, offers a speech in which, paradoxically, the greatest danger lies behind closed doors: “What me What scares me the most is the fear of the Europeans.”
“It's a diffuse fear. A horizon of distrust that permeates everything, a vague feeling of fear. With a war right here next door and another not far away. With tremors in Africa and the suspicion that migrants could arrive uncontrolled. With a defense that we have contracted out to the United States, a military umbrella that Trump could close, with cheap energy that will no longer come from Russia, with the certainty that we will lose markets in Asia.”
“We are an aging continent in a young world, hence this mix of fear and uncertainty.” On the other hand, there is always someone who gives a clear, simple and wrong answer: the ultras, those muscular leaders who tell us: “We are strong, they will find out,” he emphasizes; “The European elections will be fundamental.”
Josep Borrell gestures during the interview.Moeh Aitar
These elections will take place in June. But the first spring and thaw will come: according to intelligence reports, Russia has prepared well and Ukraine is losing positions. Every tragedy has its prophecy, but the victims only listen when there is no cure. Who wins? “Two years ago, Putin started a conflict that was supposed to last a week. And Ukraine is resisting. Russia came within eight kilometers of the Kiev parliament but was repelled. I saw the charred rows of their tanks there: they haven't won the war, but they haven't lost it yet.
The war has led to a geopolitical awakening in the EU. And yet there is a feeling that the Europeans have done too little. Europe has delayed decisions on its military support, and leaders are hesitating because public opinion also doesn't want more. “The EU's civil and military, economic and humanitarian aid exceeds that of the United States,” he replies. “And we have made a qualitative leap: at the beginning we promised helmets; Now we're sending F-16s. “If we want Ukraine to resist, we have to help it more and faster.”
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“Europe has recognized that it lives in a dangerous world and has an aggressive state on its borders. You have to ask yourself if you want a Moscow puppet in Kiev, with Russian troops on the Polish border and the risk of another invasion. “Russia is a non-democratic regime capable of eliminating opponents like Navalny or his deserters on European soil.” Do we want it to reach the doors of Europe and control 36% of the world grain market? The Russians have shown resilience: they are used to hardship and are not asked whether they would prefer anything other than a war economy. We have to ask ourselves what we can do.”
Are European divisions an obstacle? “Only Hungary, which has a security agreement with China, has distanced itself. And yet it pays its share of military aid to Ukraine and does not veto civilian aid. We have demonstrated remarkable unity. But it is logical that concerns arise with 27 countries: if we had overcome them quickly and with massive and immediate help, Ukraine would have fared better. And so do we.†How do you win a war against a nuclear power that spends 30% of its budget on defense? “Russia is at war with all its consequences. Europe is not at war, but it also does not fully understand what this war means for it.” “Putin has mobilized all his resources, he has military support from Iran and North Korea and economic support from China.” So I appeal to them Member States that their support corresponds to the type of war we are facing, a mix of wars of the last century and cutting-edge technologies. We must do more, and quickly: the war could be decided in the coming months. To resist is to win.”
Portrait of the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, this Friday in Madrid.Moeh Aitar
On the other side of the Atlantic, Trump is breaking the traditional pattern of NATO deterrence. “It is outrageous that it is calling on Russia to attack those countries that do not meet its conditions.” And it is outrageous that there are Republicans who compare the Ukraine war to migration pressure from Mexico. We must take responsibility, increase defense capabilities and be prepared for all eventualities. Trump hasn't won yet, just like Putin hasn't won yet, but Europe needs to wake up.
The succession of wars and unrest transforms the story of the third decade of the 21st century into a tragic Ravel's Bolero: Gaza is the center of attention, where 1.7 million Palestinians are pressed against a wall. What will Europe do in the event of a disaster? “We are already in the middle of a catastrophe. The United Nations had to stop humanitarian aid: Israel is using hunger as a weapon of war and this violates international law. We said it in Ukraine and it still applies now. Gaza was devastated: the use of force was disproportionate.”
Spain and Ireland called for the association agreements with Israel to be suspended if it was proven that rights were being violated: “This is an extraordinary step forward and puts the finger on the weak point.” But Europe is unable to comply with the USA in its demand to go along with a ceasefire, perhaps because there is no common position in the EU either: “At the United Nations we have a divided opinion, 18 votes in favor and nine abstentions.”
The weight of history explains the position of Germany, even the Germans at the top of the institutions: the President of the Commission, the German Ursula von der Leyen, paid a visit to Tel Aviv during which she defended Israel's right to defend itself from the outside set any limits on him. “The disaster in Gaza is not the result of an earthquake or a flood: it is the result of a devastating military action.” Hamas is an idea, and an idea can only be fought with another idea: the plans of [el primer ministro israelÃ, BenjamÃn] Netanyahu for Gaza is unacceptable. The seeds of hate are sown across multiple generations. It is an open secret that the Israelis have funded Hamas and helped divide the Palestinians. Or that the US position is taking its toll [el presidente, Joe] Biden belongs to the young Democratic electorate. And that von der Leyen's trip with such an absolutely pro-Israel stance, without representing anyone but himself in matters of international politics, has had a high geopolitical cost for Europe.
Borrell leaves a few more messages for Von der Leyen. Firstly: “It is announced that there will be a Defense Commissioner, but the Commission has no powers in defense matters, only in the defense industry.” I would like to know what the legal basis of your proposal is.” And secondly: “It is legal that he wants a second term in office, but not that he intends to attribute all successes personally: there is a college of commissioners of different political stripes who have made decisions that they should pay more attention to neutrality in the election.” it is the former president and candidate. He should focus on ensuring that his party, the European PP, is not tempted to ally with the ultras and thereby abandon its traditional alliances.
Borrell's hands, in a moment of the interview.Moeh Aitar
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