Space Travel News
SUPERPOWERS
EU Russia hawks back Trump call to boost defence spending
EU Russia hawks back Trump call to boost defence spending
By Max DELANY
Brussels, Belgium (AFP) Jan 22, 2025

The EU's top diplomat and Poland's prime minister said Wednesday that the bloc must heed US President Donald Trump's demand to spend much more on defence -- faced with the "existential threat" posed by Russia.

The rallying cries were the latest in a slew of increasingly alarming warnings from European officials, who have been calling for a "wake-up call" on defence since Moscow's tanks rolled into Ukraine in 2022.

Trump has ramped up the pressure by warning Washington's European allies that he could withhold US protection, calling for NATO to more than double its defence spending target.

"President Trump is right to say that we don't spend enough. It's time to invest," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in a keynote speech at a conference in Brussels. "The United States, they are our strongest ally, and must remain so."

"The EU's message to the US is clear, we must do more for our own defence and shoulder a fair share of responsibility for Europe's security," she said.

EU countries have increased their military budgets since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

But politicians acknowledge they will have to go further as they struggle to match Moscow's vast military output.

"Russia poses an existential threat to our security today, tomorrow and for as long as we under-invest in our defence," said Kallas, a former prime minister of Estonia.

"Many of our national intelligence agencies are giving us the information that Russia could test EU's readiness to defend itself in three to five years. Who else are we listening to?"

Speaking separately at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Polish Prime Minister Donald Trump insisted that "if Europe is to survive, it needs to be armed".

The leader of Poland, which spends proportionally more on defence than any NATO ally, urged fellow EU states to take seriously Trump's call to up the spending target to five percent of GDP from two percent.

"This is a time when Europe cannot afford to save on security," said Tusk, whose country took over the EU's rotating presidency this month.

- 'Language of strength' -

Kallas meanwhile said Europe's first priority must be helping Ukraine's fatigued forces fight back against the Kremlin's invasion as Russian President Vladimir Putin's war nears the three year mark.

"There is absolutely no doubt that we can do more to help Ukraine. With our help, they can also win the war," she said.

"The only language that Putin speaks is the language of strength."

Trump has sparked fears in Europe that he could force Kyiv into painful concessions in search of a quick deal with Moscow to end the conflict.

"Aggression as a foreign policy tool can never, never pay off," Kallas said, warning the United States that its key rival China was watching for any signs of weakness.

"Ukraine's security against Russia is security for us all."

She said she wanted "to look into doing even more" with over 200 billion euros ($208 billion) of Russian state assets frozen in the bloc.

So far the EU and its international partners have used the interest on the money to give Kyiv a $50 billion loan, but they have refused to touch the main assets.

- UK a 'key partner' -

Beyond the United States, Kallas said the EU needed to strengthen security bonds with former member and "key partner" Britain.

"We need a mutually beneficial relationship on security and defence," Kallas said. "A new agreement on this is a logical next step."

EU leaders are set to meet next month in Brussels with the British prime minister and the head of NATO for a discussion on bolstering Europe's defences.

Last month, NATO chief Mark Rutte said Europe must "turbo-charge" defence spending and production if it is to deter Russia from launching a bigger war in the future.

Kallas and EU defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius are set to put forward new proposals for bolstering the bloc's industry in March.

Despite a raft of existing initiatives, officials admit the EU has so far struggled to turn the rhetoric into reality and step up to the scale of the threat.

"The storm clouds of war are gathering over Europe," Kubilius said.

"We can outspend, outproduce -- and outgun Russia."

Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
SUPERPOWERS
Rubio, on first day, warns China with Asian partners
Washington (AFP) Jan 22, 2025
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on his first full day in office Tuesday warned jointly with Japan, India and Australia against coercive actions in Asia, in a veiled but clear warning to China over its actions at sea. Rubio met in Washington with his counterparts from the so-called Quad a day after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who has vowed to push back against a rising China. But the gathering also marks a contrast with Trump's frequent dismissal of US allies and partners, with ... read more

SUPERPOWERS
SUPERPOWERS
Mysterious Martian mounds formed by ancient water

New marsquake data sheds light on the Martian crust mystery

Trump vows to plant flag on Mars, omits mention of Moon return

Signatures of Ice-Free Ancient Ponds and Lakes Found on Mars

SUPERPOWERS
Blue Ghost Advances Lunar Mission Milestones

Astronauts on NASA's Artemis mission to the Moon will need better boots - here's why

Snooping science on the Moon

The Moon a remnant of Earth's mantle

SUPERPOWERS
SwRI models suggest Pluto and Charon formed similarly to Earth and Moon

Citizen scientists help decipher Jupiter's cloud composition

Capture theory unveils how Pluto and Charon formed as a binary system

Texas A and M researchers illuminate the mysteries of icy ocean worlds

SUPERPOWERS
Extreme supersonic winds detected on distant exoplanet

Double the disks double the discovery new insights into planet formation in DF Tau

Bioactive compounds with industrial applications discovered in Andes bacteria

Astrophysicists reveal structure of exocomet belts around 74 nearby stars

SUPERPOWERS
Musk, Wikipedia founder in row over how to describe 'Nazi salute'

Galactic Energy launches five satellites into orbit

ISRO demonstrates restart of Vikas engine

SpaceX again scrubs launch of more satellites from California

SUPERPOWERS
China launches additional satellites for Spacesail Constellation

Shenzhou XIX crew completes second spacewalk mission

Shenzhou XIX crew completes second spacewalk

H3 Shenzhou-19 astronauts advance experiments aboard Tiangong space station

SUPERPOWERS
Asteroid impact sulfur release less lethal in dinosaur extinction

Quadrantid Meteor Shower offers 'perfect New Year treat'

UCF scientists examine unique asteroid-comet hybrid

Lab experiments explore origins of gullies on Asteroid Vesta

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.