(14 Nov 2016) French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said on Monday that Europe must "defend its own interests" as he arrived for a European Union (EU) foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday.
Top EU diplomats are calling for more robust European defence and a greater European voice in world affairs as Donald Trump - whose isolationist, protectionist promises have worried many in Europe - prepares to assume the US presidency.
With many question marks around Trump's foreign policy plans, EU foreign ministers agreed Monday at talks in Brussels on the need to strengthen Europe's role in world affairs until the future of trans-Atlantic relations becomes clearer.
"We are in an uncertain world, and it has not started with the election of Mr. Trump," said Ayrault.
"But Europe must not wait for others' decisions, it must defends its own interests - that is to say the interest of Europeans - and at the same time reaffirming its strategic role on the global level."
The foreign ministers were gathering in Brussels to discuss strained ties with membership candidate country Turkey, the conflicts in Syria and Libya, and defence cooperation with the NATO military alliance.
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