“Europe needs to step up and has to take on its responsibility” for its security, she told the Munich Security Conference, AFP reported.

“Europe’s security was not always been seen as our primary responsibility,” she said.

“We must grow a European backbone of strategic enablers: in space, intelligence and deep strike capabilities,” she said.

“No taboo can go unchallenged,” she said, referring notably to the use of a collective commitment by EU member states to defend one another in the event of aggression.

“I believe the time has come to bring Europe’s mutual defense clause to life.”

Europe has already embarked on a historic rearmament effort to have a credible defense by 2030, following threats by the US to reduce their investment in NATO, and to prepare for a potential conflict with Russia.