The European Union has presented a comprehensive defense plan aimed at creating a credible military deterrent against Russia’s aggressive actions. This plan consists of calls, in particular, for EU member states to invest more in their joint defense spending. The Defense White Paper, published on March 19, 2025, proposes to take important steps to strengthen the EU’s military power. A €150 billion credit plan will highlight greater cooperation and joint procurement in the European defense industry.
Joint Procurement and New Investments
According to the White Paper, the EU will provide €150 billion in loans to encourage member countries to jointly procure with each other in the field of defense. These loans will allow member countries to increase their investments in the defense industry and make their defense systems more effective through joint projects. In addition, countries such as Norway, Switzerland and Ukraine will also benefit from this process by cooperating with the EU. Priority areas for such investments include air defense, military mobility, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and strategic boosters.
Critical Investment Areas
The European Commission emphasizes that investments in the defense industry should focus on specific areas. These areas include air defense systems, military mobility and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Increasing Europe's investments in these areas is of great importance both for national security and regional defense. Unmanned aerial vehicles, in particular, hold an important place among the war technologies of the future, and Europe needs a strong infrastructure to compete globally in this area.
Forward-Looking Collaborations with the UK and the US
The European Union's defence plans aim to include the UK and the US. The Commission aims to strengthen defence and security cooperation with the UK and plans to hold bilateral summits on this issue. Europe accepts the view that the US should shift towards global security strategies and that Europe should take on more of its own defence. In this context, the decline of US military influence in Europe reinforces the EU's desire to increase its defence responsibilities.
Development of the European Defense Industry
EU Commissioner Kaja Kallas stated that there is a huge window of opportunity open for strengthening Europe's defense industry. Seizing this opportunity will be a critical step for strengthening not only Europe's military defense but also its industrial capacity. Kallas stated that Europe must have a strong defense capacity that will contribute not only to its own internal defense but also to global security.
New Financial Models and Defense Spending
The EU Commission has stated that financial rules should be relaxed in order for member states to increase their defense spending. In this context, Europe's defense budget is expected to increase rapidly. The increase in defense spending will be used not only for the development of joint defense projects between member states, but also to increase the effectiveness of strategic defense systems. This plan will allow the EU to establish its military independence and a strong defense capacity.
The European Union has prepared a comprehensive defense plan to provide an effective military deterrent against Russia by 2030. Joint defense spending and procurement projects will shape the future security of the EU and make the European defense industry stronger. However, this plan requires strong cooperation and partnership between member states to be successful. Europe aims to play a stronger role in both regional and global security by increasing its own defense capacity.
