EU Commission President Von der Leyen: 'The West as we knew it no longer exists!'

Speaking to Germany's Die Zeit newspaper, von der Leyen said she believes it is important for Europe to contribute to the formation of the new world order that is slowly taking shape, and that it is capable of doing so.

Emphasizing that Europe has experienced serious crises over the last decade that have deeply affected the continent—such as the banking crisis, the migration crisis, Brexit, the pandemic, the energy crisis, and Russia's war on Ukraine—von der Leyen noted that, despite this, Europe has emerged stronger from every crisis.

When asked whether she considers herself a leader of the Western world, von der Leyen replied, "The West as we knew it no longer exists. The world has become a geopolitical sphere, and today our networks of friendship extend to every corner of the globe."

Pointing out that this situation is already visible in customs disputes, von der Leyen added that she has been holding talks with numerous heads of state and government who want to work with them on the new order.

In response to the question, "There is no such thing as the West anymore. Does this mean a final farewell to the US?", von der Leyen said she is a friend of the US and believes that the friendship between Americans and Europeans will continue.

Von der Leyen stated, "However, the new reality also includes many other countries seeking closeness with us. 13 percent of global trade is conducted with the US. This is a large proportion. But the remaining 87 percent consists of trade that other states conduct around the world. They all want predictability and reliable rules."

Noting that the 'end of history' was declared in 1990 with the fall of the Berlin Wall, von der Leyen said, "Now history has returned, and with it, geopolitics. What we are experiencing as a world order is becoming a world disorder."