Europe must significantly increase military spending, consolidate resources for joint defense initiatives, and prioritize the purchase of European-made weaponry, according to a newly unveiled EU strategic framework. The plan, revealed on Wednesday, is driven by mounting concerns over Russia’s aggressive stance and growing uncertainty surrounding the long-term reliability of U.S. military support.

Outlined in a White Paper on defense, the European Commission’s proposals aim to establish a "robust and self-reliant" security posture for the continent by 2030.

"The global order is shifting in ways not seen since 1945. This marks a defining moment for Europe's security," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told journalists in Brussels. She emphasized that Russia has fully mobilized its economy for warfare, allocating 40% of its federal budget to military expenditures.

"Regardless of peace negotiations in Ukraine, Moscow is pursuing a long-term strategy of militarization and aggression," Kallas warned.

EU nations have already escalated their defense spending in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, increasing budgets by over 30% between 2021 and 2024. However, the urgency to strengthen European defenses has intensified, particularly as U.S. President Donald Trump signals a thaw in U.S.-Russia relations and Washington shifts its focus away from European security.

"Europe's 450 million citizens should not rely on 340 million Americans to protect them from 140 million Russians—especially when those Russians are struggling to defeat 38 million Ukrainians," European Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius remarked. "We are capable of doing better. It’s time we take responsibility for our own defense."

The White Paper highlights critical "capability gaps" across multiple military domains, including air and missile defense, long-range artillery, munitions, drone warfare, cyber operations, artificial intelligence, military logistics, and infrastructure protection. To address these shortfalls, the document calls for EU nations to pool resources swiftly, particularly through the Defence Projects of Common European Interest—government-led initiatives supported by EU financial incentives.

Predictably, Moscow has condemned the EU’s military buildup, dismissing it as warmongering based on an "imaginary" Russian threat. Yet European leaders remain unconvinced by such rhetoric, noting that similar reassurances were made before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine.

The EU's strategy also incorporates earlier proposals to increase defense spending. Among them is a plan for the European Commission to raise €150 billion through borrowing, providing loans to member states for military investments. Additionally, the Commission aims to loosen EU fiscal rules to unlock a further €650 billion for defense projects.

Traditionally, defense policy has been the domain of individual national governments and NATO, the transatlantic security alliance linking Europe with North America. However, the EU has become increasingly involved in military affairs, and the White Paper signals a major shift toward a more unified European defense strategy.

Many EU member states support this initiative, but the specifics of implementation remain contentious. Key points of debate include decision-making authority over joint military projects, leadership of such initiatives, and funding mechanisms. The proposed measures require approval from EU national governments and, in some cases, the European Parliament before they can be enacted.

A particularly divisive aspect of the plan is the suggestion that the European Commission could serve as a "central purchasing body" for defense acquisitions on behalf of member states. While some EU capitals back the idea, others insist that military procurement decisions should remain in national hands.

The White Paper also proposes streamlining and harmonizing defense procurement regulations to create a unified European market for military equipment. This initiative aims to address Europe’s highly fragmented defense industry, where multiple manufacturers produce a variety of weapons systems for different national governments.

For example, while the United States operates a single type of main battle tank, Europe fields 19 different models. Similarly, Europe has 17 different types of torpedoes, compared to just two in the U.S., according to a McKinsey analysis. By reducing such inefficiencies, EU leaders hope to strengthen Europe’s military capabilities while maximizing cost-effectiveness.