European nations are rapidly increasing defence spending in response to growing security concerns driven by the ongoing war in Ukraine and uncertainty over US commitments under Donald Trump’s presidency.
European leaders met in London on Sunday to advance plans for stronger defence cooperation, with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen warning that Europe urgently needs to “rearm”.
“We need a massive surge in defence, without any question. We want lasting peace, but lasting peace can only be built on strength,” von der Leyen said on Monday. She added that she would inform EU member states on Tuesday about plans to strengthen European defence industry and military capabilities.
The talks, which brought together 18 allies, came just days after Trump publicly berated Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, accusing him of being “disrespectful” and ungrateful for US aid.
Read moreTensions boil over between Trump, Vance and Zelensky at the White House
‘We should have woken up earlier’
French President Emmanuel Macron has repeatedly called for greater military spending, urging European nations to raise defence budgets to at least 3 to 3.5 percent of GDP. He reportedly plans to lead by example by proposing that France allocate 5 percent of its GDP to defence, according to France Inter.
“We should have woken up earlier,” Macron said. “I’ve been saying for years that we need a more sovereign, more united, more independent Europe.”
The UK, Germany, and Denmark are also set to increase defence investments. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged last week to raise defence spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027 – the largest increase since the Cold War.
The surge in military expenditure boosted European defence stocks on Monday. Shares in French defence group Thales rose 14 percent while BAE systems and Germany’s Rheinmetall rose 14 percent and 12 percent, respectively.
‘Europe can no longer depend on the United States’
Elsa Bernard, a public law expert at the University of Lille, stressed the need for a coordinated European defence strategy. “Today, Europeans understand that Europe can no longer depend on the United States for its security,” she said.
Bernard pointed to Germany as an example, noting that even Friedrich Merz, the future chancellor and a known Atlanticist, is now advocating for an autonomous European defence.
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“This new situation is accelerating the development of European defence because it simply seems impossible to do otherwise. The European Union must be able to ensure its own defence and must therefore strive for strategic autonomy,” she said.
Despite these calls for greater independence, Europe remains heavily reliant on US support. Tens of thousands of American troops are stationed across the Continent, and the United States continues to provide vital military capabilities, such as technical training and nuclear deterrence.
Even as they rally behind Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, European leaders recognise that lasting peace and European security depend on the United States. Starmer noted that Europe is ready to “do the heavy lifting” on security guarantees for Ukraine, but he stressed that “strong US backing” remains essential – something Trump has not yet committed to.
Moment of truce
In the absence of US leadership, Europe has stepped up on the diplomatic front. France and the UK on Monday proposed a one-month truce in Ukraine.
“It’s a way of verifying that Russia is willing to end this war,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on France Inter radio. He clarified that the initial phase would not involve a Russian troop withdrawal, adding that genuine peace talks would only start “once we have proof of goodwill”.
However, UK officials have expressed caution, with Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard telling Times Radio that “no agreement has been made on what a truce looks like”.
Pollard also warned that a pause in the fighting without a “durable and lasting peace” in sight could give Russia the time to rearm, regroup and attack again.
European leaders are due to meet again on Thursday in Brussels, with Zelensky in attendance. The stakes are high, with Europe’s ability to protect itself and assert its interests depending on increasingly coordinated military efforts.
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