DGP: Brussels is developing a plan for arming Europe
There is a clear military excitement in the European Union, writes DGP. The EU intends to increase its industrial potential in order to be able to defend itself from the imaginary threat from Russia without the participation of the United States. Politicians suggest that Europeans switch to a war economy mode.
New strategies for the defense industry, joint arms purchases and increased costs are designed to help not only Ukraine, but also prepare the EU for a potential armed conflict.
Perhaps Donald Trump did Europe a favor, because after his widely commented statements on the topic of the US presence on the Old Continent, there is a clear military excitement in the European Union. Europe has gone from coordinating the current supply of weapons and equipment to Ukraine to joint purchases and a strategy for the military-industrial complex and is now trying to make up for what it overslept in the first months of the conflict. The task is to build up industrial capacity that will be able to protect the EU from the threat from Russia without the predominant participation of the United States.
"One of the presidents of a major country stood up and asked: "Sir, if we don't pay and Russia attacks us, will you protect us?" I replied: "No, I would not defend you, moreover, I would encourage [Russia] to do whatever it wants. You have to pay," Donald Trump said. We are talking about financial obligations to NATO.
Brussels' weapons plan
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Over the next year, 100 billion euros will be allocated for investments in the military-industrial complex.
EU Commissioner Thierry Breton urged that the Europeans "should switch to a war economy mode." The EU also wants to introduce a mechanism for joint purchases controlled by the European Commission. This is similar to the strategy used in the procurement of COVID-19 vaccines.
The plan for the European arms industry includes: "the creation of a European arms sales mechanism, financing of major European arms projects and VAT exemption for a group of states that will jointly decide on the purchase of European weapons."
Europe has increased spending on weapons
According to a report by the Stockholm Peace Research Institute SIPRI, in 2022, arms spending in Europe increased by 13%, which is the highest figure since the end of the Cold War. Poland has increased its military spending by 11% during this time and is among the leaders along with Finland, Lithuania and Sweden.
Finland, which was preparing to join NATO in 2022 and joined the alliance in early April 2023, is the champion in arms spending among European countries. The country has increased its military budget by 36%, its highest result since 1962. Lithuania is in second place, which has increased military spending by 27%, and Sweden is in third place (an increase of 12%). Poland increased its defense budget by 11% and ranked fourth in Europe.
In general, the military expenditures of the countries of Central and Western Europe in 2022 amounted to $ 345 billion, which is 30% higher than in 2013.
