President Barack Obama called for a strong, unified Europe. Photo: JNS.org.

US President Barack Obama made an impassioned plea for European unity in the face of rising populism and skepticism Monday, warning this was a “defining moment” for the continent.

“A strong and united Europe is a necessity for the world,” Obama said in the German city of Hanover, in a landmark speech that carried the tone of a blunt challenge to friends.

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