The European Union has introduced the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, a €150 billion ($163 billion) funding program aimed at strengthening strategic autonomy and reducing reliance on U.S. weapons. Part of the broader Readiness 2030 plan, SAFE will provide defense investment loans to EU member states, as well as Ukraine, EFTA, and EEA countries, but will exclude the U.S. and the UK. European Commission Vice President Kaja Kallas highlighted concerns about operational independence, citing Lockheed Martin’s F-35 as an example. The EU also released a defense white paper outlining critical capability gaps and calling for greater coordination to bolster Europe’s defense industry. This initiative marks a major shift in European defense policy, prioritizing homegrown capabilities over external dependencies.
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EU Nears Agreement On €1.5 Billion Defense Fund.
- Veiko Lukmann
- 03/12/2024
- 0
European Union member states are nearing agreement on a €1.5 billion defense fund to strengthen the bloc’s defense industry and support Ukraine over three years. The European Defence Investment Program (EDIP) is expected to be finalized by year-end, enabling military purchases with up to 35% of components from outside the EU. This approach balances the goal of bolstering Europe’s defense sector with the urgent need for ready-made equipment for Ukraine. The EU is also identifying flagship projects of common interest, such as air and missile defense, to benefit from EDIP funding. This initiative reflects the EU’s dual focus on immediate […]
European militaries rush to catch up on space traffic mapping
- Veiko Lukmann
- 30/09/2024
- 0
#analysis The rapid growth of space activity has led European militaries to increase their focus on space traffic mapping to address emerging threats. The number of active satellites has more than tripled in the last four years, and most of this activity is occurring in low Earth orbit, creating new challenges for military surveillance systems designed for geostationary orbits. Companies like Safran, Vyoma, and True Anomaly are working with defense departments to improve space awareness and tracking capabilities. Military leaders stress the importance of collaboration between civilian, commercial, and military sectors to enhance space-domain awareness and avoid potential crises. As […]
EU Unveils €800 Billion Defense Plan Amid U.S. Uncertainty
- Veiko Lukmann
- 04/03/2025
- 0
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced an €800 billion ($841 billion) “REARM Europe” initiative to bolster EU defense capabilities amid concerns over potential U.S. disengagement. The proposal will be presented to 27 EU leaders during an emergency meeting in Brussels on Thursday, following President Donald Trump’s remarks on U.S. support for Europe and Ukraine. Von der Leyen stressed the need to ease fiscal constraints so member states can increase defense spending, with an average 1.5% of GDP increase expected to generate €650 billion ($683 billion) over four years. The initiative underscores Europe’s push for greater military self-reliance […]