European Leaders Plan Bigger Military Spending as Trump Changes U.S. Policies – Reuters Reports
According to Reuters, European leaders met in Brussels on Thursday and agreed to spend more money on their militaries and keep supporting Ukraine. Their decision comes as Donald Trump, the former U.S. president, has changed America’s policies, making Europe unsure if the U.S. will still protect them.
Europe Says It Must Be Ready for War
Poland’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, said that Europe must take military threats seriously and “win this arms race.” He believes Europe is stronger than Russia in terms of military, economy, and finances.
Reuters reports that European leaders support a new plan from the European Commission, which allows them to spend more freely on defense and even borrow up to 150 billion euros ($160 billion) to boost their militaries. All 27 EU countries agreed to quickly study these proposals to decide how to proceed.
The biggest concern for Europe is Russia’s growing power. Many leaders fear that Russia might attack an EU country next and believe Europe can no longer rely on U.S. military protection.
Macron Warns That Europe Must Defend Itself
Reuters highlights that French President Emmanuel Macron told the French people that Europe must prepare to defend itself because Russia is a major threat to the entire continent. His comments angered Moscow, which criticized France for increasing tensions.
EU Leaders Show Strong Support for Ukraine – Without Hungary
Reuters reports that most European leaders promised to continue supporting Ukraine, but Hungary’s leader, Viktor Orban, who is a Trump ally, did not sign the joint statement.
In contrast, 26 other European leaders strongly rejected the idea of peace talks without Ukraine’s approval. They vowed to keep sending aid to help Ukraine fight against Russia.
At the Brussels summit, EU leaders gave Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy a warm welcome, showing strong support. Reuters notes that this was very different from Zelenskiy’s recent tense meeting with Trump in the White House.
Europe Faces Challenges Without U.S. Military Support
For decades, Europe has relied on U.S. military protection, but now, Trump’s policy shift has created serious challenges.
Reuters explains that the U.S. provided over 40% of Ukraine’s military aid last year, but now that Washington has frozen military assistance, Europe is struggling to fill the gap. Some European leaders still hope the U.S. will return to supporting Ukraine, but they know they must prepare for the worst.
Germany’s outgoing Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, told reporters that Ukraine still depends on U.S. military aid, so Europe must try to convince the U.S. to continue its support.
France Considers Expanding Its Nuclear Protection for Europe
A key point from Reuters is that Macron suggested France could extend its nuclear protection to other European countries.
This idea got mixed reactions:
- Lithuania’s President said a European nuclear shield would be a strong deterrent against Russia.
- Poland said the idea was worth discussing.
- The Czech Republic believes the U.S. should still be involved.
Trump’s Stance Worries European Leaders
Reuters reminds readers that Trump has long said Europe should pay more for its own defense and warned that the U.S. will not protect NATO allies who don’t spend enough. His friendlier approach toward Russia has deeply worried European leaders, who now see Russia as the biggest security threat.
Because of this, Germany’s next government is preparing to change its laws to allow more borrowing for military spending. Meanwhile, Norway announced it will double its financial support to Ukraine and increase its defense budget.
Norway, which has the world’s largest wealth fund ($1.8 trillion), has made huge profits from gas sales to Europe since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. Many people now expect Norway to give more aid to Ukraine.
Conclusion
Reuters reports that European leaders are taking action to protect themselves, spending more on defense, and standing by Ukraine.
With Trump changing U.S. policies, Europe can no longer rely on American military support, so they must prepare for any future conflicts on their own.
Credit: Reuters