Several European Union countries are concerned that a reduction in arms imports from the US could provoke the ire of US President Donald Trump. According to Politico, citing diplomatic circles, this concern is a major topic of discussion ahead of the informal EU summit on February 3 in Brussels.
The summit is expected to focus on the integration of private investments, optimizing the EU’s budget and alternative models for financing defense initiatives with different time horizons. A high-ranking EU official stated that questions of defense efficiency and reducing dependence on the US will be at the center of the discussions.
France is pushing for European taxpayers’ money to be spent exclusively on military systems developed and produced in Europe. Other countries, such as Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and the Baltic states, are more cautious and emphasize the need for close cooperation with allies, as reported by the publication.
Last year, the EU’s member states spent a total of 326 billion euros on defense, which accounts for 1.9% of the EU’s GDP. By 2027, these expenditures are expected to increase by an additional 100 billion euros. EU officials, however, point to the fragmentation and inefficiency of the European defense sector, as well as the continent’s continued heavy reliance on imports, particularly from the US.
One of the diplomats is reported to have asked, “If the EU invests billions in its defense capabilities and closes the door to the US, how will that be received in Mar-a-Lago?” This question highlights the challenge of balancing the EU’s national defense needs with a continued good transatlantic cooperation.