The European Union’s (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, said in a private conversation with lawmakers that the state of affairs in the world is such that it might be a “good moment” to start consuming alcohol.
Kallas told the leaders of political groups in the European Parliament that, although she is not normally a fan of drinking, given current events around the globe, perhaps now is precisely the time to start, two sources who were present at the meeting confirmed.
She made this joke during a meeting of the Conference of Presidents of parliamentary groups, at a moment when they were wishing one another a Happy New Year. The lawmakers, however, added that the situation in the world suggests that the year is not exactly that “happy”.
Her remark comes amid enormous global tensions.
The foreign ministers of Greenland and Denmark have just met with the United States (U.S.) Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio over threats by Donald Trump to take over this Arctic island.
Alongside fears of Trump’s annexation of Greenland, the world is being shaken by mass protests against the regime in Iran, conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as a U.S. operation in Venezuela.
Kallas, who coordinates foreign policy on behalf of the 27 EU member-state governments and the European Commission, recently also announced the possibility of introducing new sanctions against Iran following the brutal suppression of protests in which hundreds of people reportedly lost their lives.
A spokesperson for Kaja Kallas did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding this informal statement.
