EU leaders yesterday huddled with Britain’s prime minister and the head of NATO to discuss efforts to boost Europe’s defenses as they face an aggressive Russia and as US President Donald Trump demands that allies spend much more.
The gathering in Brussels is billed as a “triple first”: the first time the EU’s 27 leaders were meeting since Trump’s inauguration, their first-ever dedicated talks on defense and their first with a British prime minister since Brexit.
European nations have ramped up their military budgets since Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine almost three years ago, but officials concede they are still not arming themselves fast enough as warnings grow that Moscow could attack one of their own in the coming years.
Photo: EPA-EFE
Trump’s return to the White House has given a fresh jolt to the debate, with the volatile leader insisting NATO countries more than double their defense spending target to five 5 of GDP, a goal out of reach for many.
He has also vowed to bring a quick end to Russia’s war in Ukraine, leaving Europeans fearful he could sideline them and force Kyiv into a bad deal.
However, it is not just about the specter of Washington pulling back from Europe — Trump has rattled US allies with a series of direct threats.
Denmark’s prime minister was expected to seek a common line on Trump’s insistence that he wants Greenland.
Given the looming menace from Russia, there is widespread consensus across Europe on the need to step up on defense. The problem is there is not yet agreement on what exactly that entails.
“It’s very clear for everyone around the table that investment must increase,” an EU official said.
“It is not a question of if, it is a question of how,” the official said.
Brussels estimates the bloc needs to invest an extra 500 billion euros (US$513 billion) on defense over the next decade.
Key dividing lines revolve around how to fund the required investment, whether EU cash should be spent only on EU arms, and what role NATO should play.
On weapons, France — long accused of caring more for its own industry — insists arms should be bought in the EU.
Others counter that countries should look to whoever can supply quickest.
Buying from the US could also be a way to keep Trump on side, they said.
There is also a geographical split, with countries closer to Russia already doing far more than those further to West.
Funding is the major question, with a number of member states pushing for massive joint EU borrowing, but Germany — which faces a fraught election this month — has tried to shut down discussion of that sensitive topic.
“The worry is this meeting might become just another box-ticking exercise if we don’t discuss the elephant in the room of financing,” one EU diplomat said.
As doubts swirl over the transatlantic relationship, many are keen to step up ties with an old friend: Britain.
Five years after the UK left, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was to be back in the EU fold — at least for one dinner.
Starmer planned to call on the EU leaders to “continue bearing down” on Russian President Vladimir Putin, and to “step up and shoulder more of the burden in order to keep Europe safe against Russia’s increasing campaign of sabotage and destruction on our continent.”
Starmer would also discuss a possible UK-EU defense and security deal.
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