EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell is heavily criticized for saying that "Europe is a garden, and the world is a jungle," which became an offensive speech after he gave it in Belgium.
As more people are accusing his comments of having racist and imperialistic implications, demands are increasing that he retracts the analogy and apologizes. He was communicating with the diplomatic corps.
Europe in Comparison to the World
Borrell referred to Europe as a "garden" as part of a larger theme forging alliances to prevent disputes and hostilities with other countries. This example demonstrates how outside states can invade the Eurozone, reported Summit News.
Several diplomats and officials from those other countries immediately slammed Borrell for the remarks. Last Sunday, Nasser Bin Hassan Al-Shaikh, Director-General of Dubai's Department of Finance, who holds considerable power, singled out the "imperialism" and "racism" on display.
Borrell commented that the jungle can infiltrate the garden and that gardeners must go into the jungle to safeguard the park, noted Iran Press.
He mentioned these comments when addressing the European Diplomatic Academy's opening ceremony in Bruges, Belgium. Parts EU's Josep Borrell speech remarked it was the effort of Europeans to make a garden they built themselves, referencing current Europe and the EU, which rules it.
The best blend of political liberty, economic success, and social cohesiveness that humanity has achieved can be credited to our collective work, but some found it to be offensive speech.
Three objects appear to be connected, and these bridges might be a representation of good things and a healthy intellectual life. Borrell stressed that the world is not a garden but a jungle that can always invade. What is needed is the vigilance of gardeners to maintain it.
He added that gardeners would not use walls to fortify the garden. The answer isn't a tiny garden surrounded by towering walls to keep the jungle out due to the wilderness's enormous growth potential and the challenge of building a tall enough barrier to protect the garden.
The jungle is the place where gardeners should venture. The Europeans have to engage with the world at large far more. The external world can besiege the garden in several different ways.
Moscow Reacts at the Analogy
In response to Josep Borrell's comments, Maria Zakharova, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman, said Europe constructed that "garden" via plundering. The world's most flourishing framework, formed in Europe, was cultivated by "origins" in dominions, citing Op India.
Chastising Germany's participation in both World Wars under the pretense of establishing and maintaining justice, she stated," Their ideology of separation and supremacy had become the main principle of fascism and Nazism.
All of these world wars in the 20th century were triggered by Germany's aspirations to 'reinstate fairness' and re-divide Europe's colonies that country had failed to seize on its own. "
By achieving this goal, Zakharova continued, Germany will be guaranteed the same level of rich and carefree lifestyle as that of the opportunists living in Borrell's own Spain, in addition to France, Britain, and Portugal.
EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell and his offensive speech that would call the world a jungle while Europe a garden did not sit well with Maria Zakharova and Nasser Bin Hassan Al-Shaikh. Both pan the assertion as false.