Germany: Trump victory to spur EU military union

Following Donald Trump's victory in the US Presidential Election in November 2016 Germany's Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen suggested that this could be a spur for further EU security relevance.

France, Germany, Italy and Spain were all said to be supportive of greater European security cooperation, even if that did not mean the creation of an EU army.

The subject was discussed at a Joint Session of Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on the 14-15 November 2016. The Council adopted conclusions on implementing the EU global strategy in the area of security and defence.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: World becomes unpredictable as ‘populist’ Trump wins US election http://www.europeansources.info/record/world-becomes-unpredictable-as-populist-trump-wins-us-election/

Politico, 11.11.16: Trump gives EU defense plans new sense of urgency http://www.politico.eu/article/trump-gives-eu-defense-plans-new-sense-of-urgency/

ESO: Background information: Opening speech by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini at the 2016 EDA Conference, 10 November 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/opening-speech-by-high-representative-vice-president-federica-mogherini-at-the-2016-eda-conference/

ESO: Background information: 28 EU Defence ministers agree to move forward on European Defence http://www.europeansources.info/record/28-eu-defence-ministers-agree-to-move-forward-on-european-defence/

Politico, 13.11.16: NATO chief to Trump: ‘Going alone is not an option’ http://www.politico.eu/article/nato-chief-to-trump-going-alone-is-not-an-option/

The Guardian, 13.11.16: Trump warned by Nato chief that 'going it alone is not an option' https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/nov/12/going-alone-not-option-nato-chief-jens-stoltenberg-donald-trump

The Conversation, 15.11.16: President Donald Trump and Europe: suddenly, security has been thrust back up the agenda https://theconversation.com/president-donald-trump-and-europe-suddenly-security-has-been-thrust-back-up-the-agenda-68771

EurActiv, 15.11.16: EU backs minimalist defence plan in effort not to undermine NATO https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/eu-backs-minimalist-defence-plan-in-effort-not-to-undermine-nato/

The Guardian, 16.11.16: Ex-Nato leaders call for extraordinary meeting with Donald Trump https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/16/ex-nato-leaders-extraordinary-meeting-donald-trump

EurActiv, 18.11.16: [Opinion]: EU defence in an age of uncertainty and crisis http://www.euractiv.com/section/security/opinion/eu-defence-in-an-age-of-uncertainty-and-crisis/

Blog: Just Security, 29.11.16: NATO and European Responses to the Election of Donald Trump https://www.justsecurity.org/34686/nato-responses-election-donald-trump/

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