The European Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, has unveiled a sweeping plan to help Ukraine and boost defense spending in Europe, as US President Donald Trump’s stance on the region becomes increasingly critical. The proposal aims to ramp up European defense spending by €800 billion ($843 billion), including a €150 billion loan program to support Ukraine.
Von der Leyen proposed exempting defense investments from strict EU deficit rules, allowing member states to spend more on defense without cutting other vital public services. She also suggested a “budget escape clause” that would allow nations to increase spending by 1.5% of gross domestic product over four years, adding up to €650 billion.
The proposal is seen as an attempt to fill the void left by Trump’s withdrawal from supporting Ukraine and pressure on Europe to spend more on its own defense. The EU has been trying to find ways to allow individual nations to boost their defense spending without making drastic cuts elsewhere.
However, the plan faces opposition from some member states whose finances are already under pressure. With Ukraine facing a critical shortfall in weaponry in its war against Russia, the timing is increasingly urgent. Von der Leyen’s proposal will be met with scrutiny at a meeting of heads of state and government from across the bloc’s 27 member nations on Thursday.
While the proposal signals an important policy shift, it stops short of more ambitious ideas, including a broader collaboration with non-EU countries like Britain and Norway to support Ukraine. The EU has been watching closely to see how it might work with these countries, which have also promised to support Ukraine.
The proposal is expected to be refined over the coming weeks, as Von der Leyen’s commission prepares to present a paper on defense in March.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/04/world/europe/eu-defense-spending.html