Arthur Sullivan | Bartosz Dudek Polish version
Europe is reshaping its defence capabilities. Despite doubts about the fresh US course, European countries are inactive buying immense amounts of American equipment. How shortly can European companies catch up?
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Over the years, most EU capitals have barely seen European defence spending. present it became a substance of prime importance.
The EU has announced loans of EUR 150 billion to acquisition weapons. At the same time, Friedrich Merz, the likely future chancellor of Germany, promised to do “all he could” to strengthen Europe's defence. It started a dramatic change. Its expression is, among others, the amendments to the German Basic Act passed by the Bundestag, which let for the taking of immense debts for defence purposes.
This is due to renewed concerns about Russian aggression in east Europe and concerns about US compliance with NATO obligations.
Data published this week by SIPRI show that Europe will be hard to become independent of American military equipment.
From 2020 to 2024, almost 2 thirds of the weapons imported by European NATO members came from the US. This is simply a crucial increase compared to 52 percent between 2015 and 2019.
More than 90% of the arms imported by Norway, Sweden, Italy and the Netherlands came from the US, while in the UK it was over 80%. Between 2015 and 2019, little than 10% of German arms imports came from the US, but by 2020-2024 this percent was already 70%.
– We've had a NATO alliance for 76 years, with the United States as a major military power and a safety guarantee. European countries were satisfied with their dependence on NATO and trusted that the United States would honour its commitments. However, fresh events have raised questions in Europe about whether this must change now – says DW Tim Lawrenson of the global Institute for strategical Studies in London.
Time and money are needed
Guntram Wolff, a Brussels think tank expert Bruegel specialising in defence, claims that there is simply a degree of interdependence between American and European defence companies that is not reflected in the figures.
– Many products are actually NATO products built of components from many allies – explains Wolff, indicating for example Lockheed fighter Martin F-35, an American product made of components supplied by respective European NATO countries.
However, the expert draws attention to the Achilles heel of European arms companies – strategical technological products specified as satellites.
– erstwhile we talk about tanks and akin equipment, the gap between the US and the EU is most likely not that large. – Wolff thinks. However, for strategical technologies specified as transport helicopters or satellite communications, Europe remains dependent on the US.
Where to Spend Money
Tim Lawrenson claims that European countries are trying to reduce dependence on American equipment, but this involves immense costs and time needed to grow the European defence industry.
France and Germany argue that EU defence loans can be spent on the acquisition of equipment outside the Union, for example from European NATO members specified as the UK and Norway.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen believes that loans should go to European producers, to strengthen the local defence industry.
The future of the European defence sector
Although the European defence sector is smaller than the US, it is not meaningless. In 2023 its turnover amounted to US$316 billion versus US$829 billion.
Experts agree that Europe has the cognition and capabilities to build a strong defence industry, especially if EU financial commitments are met.
Key: European cooperation
Tim Lawrenson believes that Germany can become a model for another European countries in terms of defence spending.
– Cooperation in the improvement and procurement of public defence is difficult. However, we must convince you to buy European products, even if they have not been developed jointly - concludes the British expert.
