The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has outlined a five-point plan called ReArm Europe which she said could boost the European Union’s defense spending by 800 billion euros ($840 billion).
Speaking on Tuesday, von der Leyen said Europe must “step up” and meet the challenge it faces.
Her announcement—which will be discussed by EU leaders at a special summit on Thursday—came only hours after the United States government paused all military aid to Ukraine.
Since fighting erupted between Russia and Ukraine in 2022, the United States has sent at least $175 billion in aid, including cash and military equipment, to support Ukrainian defense efforts.
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, he has emphasized Europe needs to step up and increase its defense spending and shoulder more of the burden of defending the continent after decades of relying on the protection of Washington.
Von der Leyen said: “The real question in front of us is whether Europe is prepared to act as decisively as the situation dictates, and whether Europe is ready and able to act with speed and with the ambition that is needed.”
“In the various meetings in the last few weeks, most recently two days ago in London, the answer from European capitals has been as resounding as it is clear,” she added.
Von der Leyen said: “We are in an era of rearmament, and Europe is ready to massively increase its spending, both to respond to the short-term urgency to act and to support Ukraine, but also to invest in the long term, to take on more responsibility for our own European security.”
“Europe is ready to accept its responsibilities. We will mobilize 800 billion euros of defense expenditure for a safe and resilient Europe. We’ll of course continue working closely with our partners in NATO,” she added.
That would still be well below the 5 percent Trump has urged NATO countries to spend.
The European Union has 27 member countries and does not include Britain, Norway, Turkey or Iceland, which are in NATO.
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