Strong Europe in America’s interest, says US ambassador

Budapest, October 13 (MTI) – The United States needs Europe to be strong and the same is true the other way round, the US ambassador to Hungary said in Budapest on Tuesday.

Colleen Bell told a Hungarian Atlantic Council conference that it is in America’s interest that Europe should be successful.

Among current challenges facing NATO, she highlighted the Ukraine crisis which she said had developed as a result of “Russian military aggression”, the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, and terrorism. She made special mention of Afghanistan and Syria.

The aim of the alliance is to provide protection, to which end it needs to be proactive, Bell said.

Defence Minister Istvan Simicsko told the conference that the US is greatly needed in order to maintain Europe’s security.

Security challenges and risks currently have a stronger effect on Europe than earlier. European states, especially in the west, have become relatively affluent, but they do not possess sufficient capabilities to thwart the security risks that currently affect the continent, Simicsko said.

Euroatlantic relations are becoming ever more important when new threats develop, he said. Maintaining these links is “not simply a rational interest” for Hungary but “we share the same system of values with all NATO member countries” and relations with the US have special importance, he added.

Photo: MTI

Source: http://mtva.hu/hu/hungary-matters