European Union leaders, the British Prime Minister, and the NATO chief met in Brussels on Monday to discuss the issue, as US President Donald Trump continues to demand more spending from US allies. They reportedly discussed efforts to boost Europe’s defenses in the face of an aggressive Russia.
The Brussels gathering is being seen as a “triple first”: it is the first time the 27 EU leaders have met since the US president was sworn in. It is their first dedicated talks on defence and their first with the British prime minister since Brexit. European nations have increased their military budgets since Russia launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago. But as warnings grow that Moscow could attack itself in the coming years, officials admit they still have not amassed enough weapons.
Trump’s return to the White House has given a new twist to the debate. US President Trump has said that Europe can no longer rely solely on American security. Trump has claimed that NATO nations have more than doubled their current defense spending target, to five percent of GDP.
US President Trump has also pledged to quickly end Russia’s war in Ukraine. There have been speculations that Trump could sideline European countries and push Kiev into a bad deal. Not only has Washington’s potential withdrawal from Europe been alarmed, but Trump’s direct threat to raise taxes on American allies has also rattled them.
The Danish Prime Minister, who visited various capitals last week, is expected to reach a consensus on what he wants to do about Trump’s public comments about Greenland. Of course, Trump’s idea of imposing taxes on the EU will be discussed. The meeting has promised to respond ‘firmly’ if the EU is targeted with tax increases.
Given the growing threat from Russia, European countries have reached broad consensus on the need to take steps on defense, but the problem is that they are uncertain about the extent of the problem they are actually prepared for. “What is clear to everyone involved in these discussions is that investment in defense must be increased,” said an EU official.
“The question is not if, but how,” the official said. Brussels estimates that it will need to invest an additional 500 billion euros ($510 billion) in defense over the next decade. The main dividing lines revolve around how to finance the necessary investments. Should the EU spend its cash only on weapons for the EU? Or what role NATO will play in this?
There is also a geographical divide. Countries close to Russia are already doing more than the ‘West’. Funding is a key question and many member states are pushing for a larger joint EU loan. However, Germany, which is holding elections this month, has tried to shut down discussions on this sensitive issue.
“The concern is that if financing is not discussed, it will not address the needs,” said an EU diplomat. “Everyone knows what the problem is and the solution is, but no one wants to present it. If there is discussion but no initiative to find a solution, there is no chance of solving the problem.”
With no sign of change, EU countries have called on the group’s lending arm, the EIB, to reduce lending limits to defense companies. France, which has long been accused of favoring its own industry when it comes to arms, has been pushing for arms purchases in the EU. Others argue that countries should look to those who can supply them as quickly as possible.
One of their arguments is that buying from the United States could be a way to curry favor with Trump. The division of labor with NATO is also under discussion, as some EU countries say Brussels should be allowed to set the necessary goals for countries. This has irritated NATO.
As doubts about the transatlantic relationship continue to grow, many have sought to strengthen ties with their old friend Britain. Five years after Britain left the EU, Prime Minister Keir Starmer appears ready to discuss the problems of the European Union.
Starmer, the first British leader to attend a European Council meeting since Brexit, plans to call on EU leaders to “continue to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable” and “to shoulder more responsibility to keep Europe safe from Russia’s growing campaign of destruction and sabotage on our continent.”
Starmer, who is seeking to ‘reset’ relations after the Brexit dispute, will also discuss a possible UK-EU defense and security agreement. This may bring Britain a little closer to its powerful military and large defense industry, but the bitter legacy of Brexit remains.
Many EU diplomats have said that progress cannot be made until the dispute over fishing rights is resolved and London drops its opposition to a youth mobility scheme proposed by Brussels.
