On Tuesday, European Union president Ursula von der Leyen urged EU countries to spend more on their defence. She warned that with Russia being more aggressive and support from the United States declining, Europe needs to take charge of its own security.
In a speech to EU lawmakers in Strasbourg, von der Leyen declared that the era of depending on America for complete protection is over. She demanded immediate action, saying, “We need a surge in European defence. And we need it now.”
Recently, EU leaders agreed on a plan to raise around 800 billion euros (about 860 billion dollars) to boost defence spending. The plan includes providing loans up to 150 billion euros and changing rules to let countries spend more on defence items.
Von der Leyen emphasized that these loans should be used to strengthen Europe’s defence industry. “These loans should finance purchases from European producers,” she mentioned.
The rising tensions with Russia, particularly due to the ongoing Ukraine conflict, add to the urgency. Because the US’s role in NATO is uncertain, European governments feel pressure to enhance their military capabilities.
In her speech, von der Leyen said, “Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted but only deterred.” She added that Russia spends more on its military than all of Europe combined.
“This is the time to build a European Defence Union that ensures peace through unity and strength,” she stated confidently.
Additionally, the commission is looking into allowing member states to use funds originally meant for less wealthy countries to support their defence efforts. A summit in Brussels next week will continue these discussions, with plans for a white paper that outlines more ways to boost EU defence financing.
In the EU parliament debate, many lawmakers supported the idea of borrowing together for more defence funding, a move previously avoided by countries like Germany.
