Hawkish EU boss von der Leyen bids for second term at the top

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“We need to put the migration pact into practice and strengthen Europe’s external borders together,” Ms von der Leyen told her centre-right Christian Democratic Union party as they endorsed her bid on Monday. “And we must expand Europe’s defence capabilities. And here I am thinking above all of the industrial base.” Aligned with Canberra Ms von der Leyen has often pushed policy positions that place her closer to capitals like Washington and Canberra than to Paris and Berlin, as she has tried to make the EU a weightier player in global affairs. She has been relatively hawkish on the strategic...