Europe has been urged to confront the pressures caused bymass migrationafterDonald Trump’sright-hand man warned it was reshaping societies across the West. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said European leaders should not feel “shackled by shame” when discussing border control and national security.
Rubio used his appearance at the summit, which drew around 50 world leaders, to argue that Europe and theUnited Statesremain closely connected and face many of the same challenges. He said the two regions “belonged together” and described Europe as one of America’s “most cherished allies and oldest friends”.
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The comments come at a time when questions are being raised about the future ofNATOand whether Washington will continue to guarantee Europe’s defence in the years ahead.
Rubio said those debates should not distract from what he called a long-running issue affecting both continents.
“Mass migrationis not, was not, some fringe concern of little consequence,” he told delegates.
“It was and continues to be a crisis that is transforming and destabilising societies all across the West.”
Rubio insisted his argument was not based on hostility towards migrants, but a belief that governments must be able to decide who enters their countries.
“Controlling who and how many people enter our countries - this is not an expression of xenophobia, it is not hate,” he said. “It is a fundamental act of national sovereignty.”
Source: Daily Express :: World Feed
