Key Information
- Minister of Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, denies rumors of a power struggle with Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and highlights their collaboration.
- Overlaps in roles within the European Union structure sometimes create tensions, but Kallas sees them as opportunities for optimization and efficiency.
- Kallas defends NATO against criticism from President Donald Trump, emphasizing the importance of unity and the need to avoid rhetoric that benefits adversaries.
Kaja Kallas, the head of European Union foreign policy, responded to rumors of a power struggle with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Dismissing talk of rivalry as mere speculation, Kallas emphasized their friendly working relationship.
“Who doesn’t love a good story about a dispute between women?” joked Kallas in an interview with Estonian public broadcaster ERR.
Tensions
She acknowledged that their roles sometimes overlap. She serves as both Vice-President of the Commission and President of the EU Foreign Ministers’ meetings. This hybrid structure has led to occasional tensions, mainly regarding the creation of an intelligence unit within the Commission. This unit mirrors the existing capabilities within Kallas’s European External Action Service. Kallas supports the elimination of duplications and advocates for efficiency within the EU.
While acknowledging the existence of “institutional tensions,” Kallas presented them as a matter of optimizing EU operations rather than personal rivalry. Additionally, she underscored the importance of European unity, noting that citizens view the EU as a single entity.
Trump’s Criticisms of NATO
In another context, Ms. Kallas refuted President Trump’s description of NATO as “weak” due to its inaction in the Strait of Hormuz during a public television interview.
She emphasized that no official request for NATO intervention had been made. Furthermore, she also cautioned against divisive statements like those of President Trump, which could benefit adversaries like Russia.
(jw)
Follow Business AM on Google News as well.
If you want access to all articles, subscribe here!
