Albares: “NATO remains indispensable, but Europe must have security and deterrence in its hands”

Eduardo González Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated this Wednesday in Prague that NATO remains “absolutely indispensable for the deterrence and security of Europeans,” but warned that Europe must advance “in autonomy and sovereignty” and keep security and deterrence “increasingly in its hands.” During the joint press conference with his Czech counterpart, Jan Lipavský, Albares declared that the United States is “the historical natural ally of Europeans,” the transatlantic bond “has been mutually beneficial for Europeans and North Americans for decades,” and NATO “remains an absolutely indispensable organization for the deterrence and security of Europeans.” However, he warned, with the arrival of Donald Trump to the US Presidency and the White House's "new postulates" regarding its relationship with Europe, "the time has come" for "Europe to advance in autonomy and sovereignty, not against anyone, but in favor of maintaining the European way of life, and keeping European security, deterrence, and prosperity increasingly in our hands." Albares was received by Jan Lipavský at the Czernin Palace, headquarters of the Czech Foreign Ministry. During the meeting, the two ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Political Consultations to strengthen bilateral contacts in the future and reviewed the international situation, with particular attention to the war in Ukraine and the emergence of the new US administration in the geopolitical context. “Spain and the Czech Republic are two countries committed to European unity, security, and prosperity,” Albares declared via social media after his meeting with Jan Lipavsky. “Spain is a key partner for us within the European Union and NATO,” the Czech minister stated. “Therefore, we have reached an agreement to strengthen our bilateral cooperation in the political, economic, and security areas, and today we have confirmed this interest by signing a joint Memorandum of Cooperation between our Ministries,” he added at the press conference. Spanish Victims of the Nazis As part of the visit, Albares and Lipavský paid tribute to the Spanish and European victims of the Hradisko Nazi concentration camp, met with relatives of some of the Spanish Republicans murdered at this center, located 50 kilometers from Prague, and attended the world premiere of the documentary “Ashes,” directed by Basque filmmaker Oier Plaza, which tells the stories of these Spanish victims of Nazism. “We pay tribute to the Spanish and European victims of the Nazi concentration camp in Hradisko. Their memory reminds us that humanity and dignity must always guide us,” Albares wrote on social media. “This year, Spain commemorates 50 years of its path to democracy, and the entire world commemorates the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II,” the Czech Foreign Minister stated. “At the same time, we have been witnessing unprecedented Russian aggression against Ukraine for more than three years,” he continued. “In this context, the documentary ‘Ashes’ also serves as a poignant reminder: let us not be intimidated, let us not accept violence as a means to achieve political goals, our will cannot be broken,” he added.

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