Why it matters:
The rise in the EU's defense budget coincides with a period of unparalleled security challenges globally. The conflict in Ukraine, geopolitical strains, and reduced US backing for NATO have compelled Europe to reassess its security approaches. Nevertheless, financial limitations within member states have posed obstacles to realizing this objective.
The big picture:
For years, the European Union has relied significantly on U.S. military strength. Nonetheless, the unilateralist tactics of U.S. President Donald Trump and his recent remarks regarding non-defense of NATO members failing to meet their defense contributions have sparked apprehensions regarding the future of European security. This has led European officials to emphasize the need for defense self-reliance.
What he's saying:
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag: "We must spend more to keep ourselves safe and we must rapidly increase our defence production on both sides of the Atlantic. For too long, our production has been too low."
Rutte noted that ammunition, ships, tanks, jets, as well as satellites and drones are needed. European governments have recognized the need for self-reliance in security, but are on a difficult path to reaching a defense pact.
Key points:
- Italy, one of the EU’s most indebted countries, is refusing to increase its defense budget due to severe financial constraints.
- NATO’s military spending in 2023 is set to reach $1.28 trillion, 54 percent of which is funded by the U.S., but Trump continues to push for increased European contributions.
- European countries are facing new economic challenges after the recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine.
- The war in Ukraine and the cutoff of Russian gas exports have strained the European economy, making it difficult to increase defense spending.
Go deeper:
The European Union encounters a multitude of financial and political hurdles in its pursuit of security self-reliance. These obstacles underscore that attaining security self-reliance demands not only strategic adjustments but also enhanced coordination among member states and the identification of sustainable financial remedies.
Ashkan Salehian
