The EU buys too much defense equipment abroad, especially from the US, a major report says

A new report on EU competitiveness highlights that European Union countries are relying too heavily on foreign defense equipment, particularly from the United States, with nearly two-thirds of purchases coming from abroad. The report, authored by former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi, also notes that EU member states are not sufficiently leveraging Europe’s research and development capacities for military modernization. European defense spending is far behind that of the U.S., hindering the development of stronger domestic defense firms. This issue has become more urgent as the EU struggles to provide sufficient arms and ammunition to support Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. The findings are expected to prompt a reevaluation of the EU’s industrial strategy to better consolidate and invest in Europe’s defense capabilities.

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