Empowering Europe: How the EU Aims to Reduce Security Dependency on the US by Boosting Local Arms Production

The European Union (EU) is taking significant steps to reduce its reliance on the United States for security. On Wednesday, the EU’s executive branch rolled out its “Readiness 2030” strategy, primarily due to ongoing concerns about potential Russian aggression. NATO intelligence indicates that Russia may be able to conduct another attack in Europe within a few years.

Engagements between the U.S. and Europe have shifted, with recent hints from the Trump administration indicating a focus on American borders and interests in Asia. This has left EU nations realizing they may need to secure their own defense as a new land war unfolds in Europe.

As part of its new strategy, the EU will encourage its member states to purchase defense equipment primarily from European suppliers. These countries should only consider foreign options when it makes economic sense. Interestingly, in the past, two-thirds of defense orders from EU countries went to U.S. companies. The new plan aims for a substantial shift: to access funding, nations will need to source at least 65% of their military equipment from EU member states, Norway, or Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the need for this shift, stating, “The security architecture that we relied on can no longer be taken for granted.” She expressed that bolstering European defense will stimulate innovation and create a unified market for defense supplies.

This new approach is echoed by past EU initiatives, such as the RepowerEU scheme. This program, launched in 2022, aimed to reduce dependency on Russian gas. Remarkably, the EU’s reliance on Russian gas decreased from 45% in 2021 to just 15% in 2023.

The timing of this strategy’s announcement coincides with an EU summit. Just days earlier, member states agreed to simplify budget rules and set up a loan plan worth 150 billion euros (around $164 billion) for defense projects. However, defense companies from the U.S., U.K., and Turkey will only be eligible to benefit from this plan if their governments sign security agreements with the EU.

While some nations, like France, support more domestic procurement, others, such as Poland and the Netherlands, remain interested in buying U.S. equipment. Furthermore, the EU strategy encourages boosting collaboration with non-EU NATO allies, including countries like Canada, Australia, and Japan.

Experts underscore that while the U.S. is still a crucial ally, it is clear that America’s focus is shifting. Andrius Kubilius, the EU’s first defense commissioner, noted that “450 million European Union citizens should not have to depend on 340 million Americans to defend ourselves.”

Key priorities under this strategy include enhancing air and missile defense, artillery, drones, and cyber warfare capabilities. There’s also a strong commitment to supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression, with goals of providing two million artillery rounds annually and bolstering military training for Ukrainian troops.

As the EU pushes forward with these initiatives, they are not only reshaping their defense landscape but also altering the dynamics of global security dependency and regional collaboration.



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Europe, European Union, Vladimir Putin, Ursula Von Der Leyen, Donald Trump, General news, Eurocopa 2024, Contracts and orders, World news, Andrius Kubilius, Politics