European leaders are convening in Brussels on Thursday for a special council on defense, with French President Emmanuel Macron warning that the continent is at a critical point in history. The meeting will also address how the European Union can further support Ukraine in light of US President Donald Trump’s announcement last Monday that he would suspend aid to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelensky has been invited to the summit.
Tensions have escalated in Europe following the White House meeting between Trump and Zelensky last week, and the rhetoric surrounding Thursday’s summit emphasizes the importance attached to it by EU officials. Three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, concerns have been heightened by the Trump administration’s overtures to Russian President Vladimir Putin, leaving many Europeans worried about the reliability of US support for their security.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the continent is facing a “clear and present danger on a scale that none of us have seen in our adult lifetime,” while European Council President Antonio Costa called this a “defining moment for Ukraine and European security.” Von der Leyen also proposed a defense package called ReArm Europe, which aims to significantly increase defense spending and address the long-term need for Europe to take more responsibility for its security.
The ReArm Europe plan includes allowing countries to increase national deficit levels for defense spending, providing €150bn (£125bn) in loans for defense-related investment, and redirecting funds from cohesion policy programs to defense spending. The European Investment Bank would also be allowed to finance military projects.
Von der Leyen believes the plan could make a total of €800bn ($860bn; £670bn) available for defense expenditure. Many European leaders have expressed their support for swift action to address the continent’s security concerns.
However, dissent from certain leaders sympathetic to Moscow is anticipated. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico criticized the EU’s “peace through strength” approach, calling it “unrealistic.” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban demanded that Ukraine not be included in any official conclusions following the summit and emphasized the division between most of Europe and the US.
Despite these divisions, Macron invited Orban to dine in Paris ahead of the summit, aiming to unite leaders on common security and defense issues. Macron emphasized the need for Europe to be united and determined in protecting itself, stating that the continent’s future cannot be tied to Washington or Moscow.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3w14gw3wwlo
