The European Union has unveiled its long-awaited Defence WhitePaper, outlining how the bloc will strengthen its military capabilities in response to growing tensions with Russia and potential US withdrawal from Europe.
Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, a former Lithuanian prime minister, led the report’s launch. It comes as Germany grants a waiver for defence spending above 1% of GDP and secures €800 billion in funding for European defence infrastructure.
The document acknowledges NATO’s role in defence coordination but focuses on building common EU capabilities, including seven “gaps” that need to be addressed, such as air defence and space infrastructure. The report delegates implementation to national defence chiefs and the EU defence industry, proposing collective arms purchases across member states.
The EU flags various defence threats, from the Arctic to the Middle East, and highlights concerns over China’s influence on global order. However, some critics point out that the report is light on details regarding collective arms purchases, talent recruitment, and innovation.
Individual European countries are re-examining their relations with US Defence Department (DoD) suppliers following the Trump administration’s new approach to Europe. The EU’s defence strategy has also sparked controversy over its apparent prohibition on arms purchases from the UK with EU funding.
The report boasts strong political backing, capital, and a pragmatic implementation plan, similar to financial remedies applied to the euro-zone economy in 2012. Despite this, it highlights the EU’s near-term vulnerability.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeosullivan/2025/04/06/can-europe-re-arm-in-time-to-stop-russia