The European Commission’s Ursula von der Leyen warns before Europe against “clear and current dangers.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a five-part plan that would mobilize around 800 million euros ($842 billion) to strengthen European defenses and provide “immediate” military assistance to Ukraine after the US suspends aid.
“There is a new era,” the president said in a letter on Tuesday presenting plans to 27 European Union leaders two days before the summit aimed at establishing long-term security in Ukraine and Europe in Brussels and cementing joint action on Europe’s long-term security.
“Europe faces clear and present dangers on a scale that none of us have ever seen in our adult life,” she writes.
European leaders are under great pressure to increase defensive spending as President Donald Trump’s powerful voices have made rude awakening calls that cannot be blindly relied on Washington.
The joint borrowings will extend to the EC to build pan-European capabilities domains such as air and missile defense, gun systems, missiles and ammunition, drones and anti-drone systems, or to address other needs, from cyber to military movement.
Von Der Leyen’s proposal includes a new joint EU borrowing of 150 billion euros ($158 billion) to lend to the EU government for defense as part of its overall fundraising effort. She didn’t give a detailed time frame, but said spending needs to increase “now not only urgently, but over the last decade.”
“Europe is ready to take on that responsibility,” writes von der Reyen. “We will continue to work closely with our NATO partners. This is a moment for Europe. And we are ready to step up.”
The announcement comes hours after Trump ordered a moratorium on military aid to Ukraine amid a continuous spat with Ukrainian President Voldimir Zelenky school last week. Trump also said that NATO’s European members should spend 5% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense.
For many years, EU countries have hated spending much on defense as they rely on the US nuclear umbrella amidst slowing economic slowdowns. The new proposal will force EU countries to significantly increase military spending, which is less than 2% of their GDP.
NATO Executive Director Mark Latte told member countries that they need to move to more than 3% as quickly as possible.