EU mulls boosting military spending, relying less on U.S.
European Union officials want member states to significantly increase the bloc's armaments production rather than continue to rely on imports from the United States.
EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton has previously said that to compete with U.S. defense producers, Europe would need to spend about 100 billion euros ($110 billion).
"We need to change the paradigm and move into war economy mode," he said. "This also means that the European defense industry must take more risks, with our support."
The plan that Breton announced on Tuesday has earmarked an initial 1.5 billion euros from the current EU budget, which European Commission Vice-President Margrethe Vestager said was "not a lot of money".
But Vestager said it was a step toward a situation where the bloc could "take more responsibility" for its communal security, which may be affected by the outcome of the U.S. presidential election in November.
"We need to get that trans-Atlantic balance right, irrespective of electoral dynamics in the U.S.," she said, in a nod to Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump casting doubt on the U.S.' commitment to its NATO allies should he win the reelection, Agence France-Presse reported.
Breton said, "In the current geopolitical context, Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security, regardless of the outcome of our allies' elections every four years."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was defense minister in her native Germany before moving into European politics, has already said it would be "reasonable" to have a dedicated European defense commissioner in the future, and she would introduce one if she is reelected in the summer.
The comments came weeks after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz issued a similar call to European partners at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new munitions factory in the Saxony region, saying that "the painful reality is that we do not live in times of peace".
"We must move from manufacturing to mass production of armaments… those who want peace must be able to successfully deter aggressors," Scholz said.
Related articles
A look at Pope Francis' comments about LGBTQ+ people
VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis’ apology Tuesday for using a vulgar term to refer to gay men was th2024-05-29Mainland willing to assist with post
The mainland is willing to assist people in Taiwan's Hualien County in carrying out post-earthqu2024-05-29S. Korea's opposition bloc wins three
SEOUL, April 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's liberal opposition bloc won more than three-fifths of seat2024-05-29Police warn of traffic safety risks ahead of Qingming Festival
China's Ministry of Public Security on Monday issued an early warning for road traffic safety ri2024-05-29Step away from the phone! People share the most bizarre texts they've ever received
Despite having more ways to communicate with each other than ever, some people have still not graspe2024-05-29Eurozone inflation further cools in March
BRUSSELS, April 3 (Xinhua) -- The Eurozone saw its annual rate of inflation drop more than expected2024-05-29
atest comment