Europe today is marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day with various ceremonies.
In France, President Emmanuel Macron will lay a wreath at the Charles de Gaulle monument, then walk along the Champs-Élysées to the Arc de Triomphe, where he will light the flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and deliver a speech on the “values that triumphed in 1945,” the Guardian reported.
The ceremonies will also include a minute of silence, a military orchestra from six countries, a parade, and a flypast of fighter jets.
For the first time, Germany has also declared Victory in Europe Day a public holiday. The new Chancellor Friedrich Merz will attend a ceremony in Berlin, including a memorial service in a war-damaged church and a central celebration in the Bundestag.
Ceremonies across the country include exhibitions, testimonies from survivors, public discussions, and artistic performances.
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Against the backdrop of the Victory in Europe Day commemorations, the Guardian writes, Europe is facing the reality that it can no longer count on the support of the US to the extent it has for decades.
US President Donald Trump has recently pursued a policy that Brussels sees as increasingly lenient towards Russia, the aforementioned media outlet points out. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: “The West as we knew it no longer exists.”
Due to the deteriorating security situation, European countries are significantly increasing their defense spending.
France has raised its military budget to 3.5 percent of GDP. Similar moves have been made by Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Baltic countries, Hungary, and Slovakia.
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Source: Agencije, Foto: Pixabay