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 approves first-ever funding for joint weapons, ammo procurement
- Veiko Lukmann
- 15/11/2024
- 0
Margrethe Vestager, the Executive Vice-President of the Commission, announced a new initiative where EU budget funds will be used for the first time to support member states in jointly procuring defense products. She highlighted that this approach will enhance the value for money of national defense budgets and improve the interoperability of European armed forces. Additionally, this initiative aims to strengthen the European defense industry and enhance Europe’s preparedness against defense threats. The Commission has approved funding for nine countries, including France, Spain, Hungary, and Romania, for the joint procurement of MBDA’s Mistral very short-range air defense systems. Additionally, six […]
EU starts to work on next-generation combat ship for the 2040s
- Veiko Lukmann
- 06/11/2024
- 0
The European Union has begun developing a next-generation combat vessel, aiming for deployment in the 2040s. In two weeks, defense ministers are expected to sign a letter of intent to move forward with the project. Jürgen Scraback of the European Defence Agency noted that six EU member states, including four with major navies, have shown interest. The budget for the project is projected to exceed €20 billion ($22 billion). This advanced vessel will likely feature AI, a naval combat cloud, and directed-energy weapons, and may be included in the EU’s Permanent Structured Cooperation framework after a defense ministers’ meeting on […]
EU Faces Challenges In Defense Cooperation
- Veiko Lukmann
- 26/11/2024
- 0
Andrius Kubilius, former Lithuanian prime minister, faced tough questions during his confirmation hearing as the EU’s first defense and space commissioner, emphasizing the urgency of Europe’s defense preparedness. A recent war game revealed Lithuania could fall to Russian forces in days, prompting discussions about doubling defense spending to 6% of GDP. Kubilius stressed the EU’s need for collaborative defense efforts, including a €500 billion defense allocation in its next budget, while ensuring alignment with NATO. However, he avoided committing to specific funding mechanisms, such as repurposing cohesion funds or issuing joint EU bonds, leaving the challenge to “experts” and political […]