International

Correspondence Dan Alexe // EU strengthens its security: common front in the face of Putin… and Trump

The European Union is an “atrocity” on trade issues, said Donald Trump, in an unfriendly tone, while the 27 leaders of the EU member states met, on Monday, February 3, in Brussels, to discuss the defence of the continent. EU leaders did their best to project their unity and determination at this informal summit, discussing the defence of the continent, against the backdrop of the growing threat of a trade war with the US, but also in the face of the stalemate in the war in Ukraine and the growing Russian threat.

The leaders, like the European people, realised that Europe does not have a military importance that is commensurate with its economic and geopolitical influence. However, on behalf of all, at the end of the talks, the President of the European Council, António Costa, stressed, on behalf of all the leaders, that Europe does not accept Trump’s threats and that it will defend itself both by responding to a deliberate increase in customs duties imposed by the US, but also by guaranteeing the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark - an allusion to Trump’s insistence on obtaining, or attracting to the US sphere, the autonomous Danish island of Greenland.

Regarding the military strengthening of Europe, the most important voice remains that of France. Emmanuel Macron has become, despite the political crisis in France, the main European leader. On the one hand, France is now the only nuclear power in the EU. On the other hand, Macron has renewed his political credibility among European partners, being the first leader to propose sending European peacekeeping forces to Ukraine.

The 27 analyzed military spending, the arms industry and whether the armed forces of the member states can operate together without problems. This is especially about what is called interoperability between the different types of weapons and military infrastructures on the continent.

Macron is accompanied in all his efforts by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Poland, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, is making efforts to have defence spending of at least 3% of GDP accepted in the member states, arguing that current increases remain insufficient given security threats.

Poland and the Baltic countries shared a document before the summit demanding that the EU spend at least 100 billion euros on defense by 2027, including by purchasing weapons from NATO allies outside the EU. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said last year that the EU should seek to spend an additional €500 billion on defense over the next decade.

The US is currently benefiting greatly from Europe’s military build-up. Between mid-2022 and mid-2023, 63% of all EU defence orders were placed with US companies and a further 15% with other non-EU suppliers, according to last year’s Draghi report, which aims to make Europe more competitive, including militarily.

Warsaw is also seeking EU co-financing for its Eastern Shield defence project, a system of fortifications along its eastern border. While no decision was expected at the summit, Poland insists that because the project strengthens the EU’s external border, Warsaw should not bear the cost alone. France is leading the fight to change this, with some support from Greece.

Last week, Greece’s Deputy Defense Minister, Yiannis Kefalogiannis, said that buying more weapons “developed and produced in the EU will lead to greater strategic autonomy, especially if NATO comes under pressure during Trump’s second term.”

EU leaders were joined by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who has been trying to keep a channel open to Trump to convince the US president of the value of the Atlantic alliance, including by seeking ways to make it easier and faster for Europeans to buy US weapons.

AP / European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (left), European Council President Antonio Costa (center), and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk arrive at the European Council building after an EU summit in Brussels, Monday, February 3, 2025.
Sursa: AP / European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (left), European Council President Antonio Costa (center), and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk arrive at the European Council building after an EU summit in Brussels, Monday, February 3, 2025.
Dan Alexe

Dan Alexe

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