Europe to boost joint defence under Trump, German minister says; But Spanish PM says must avoid 'arms race'

Europe to boost joint defence under Trump, German minister says; But Spanish PM says must avoid 'arms race'
by AFP Staff Writers
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) Jan 14, 2025

Europe's largest militaries have decided to increase defence cooperation in light of US President-elect Donald Trump taking office next week, Germany's defence minister said Tuesday on a visit to Kyiv.

European leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron have been pushing for greater EU defence cooperation since Trump's election win in November, amid questions over the incoming US administration's commitment to transatlantic security.

Trump has long been critical of the NATO military alliance, suggesting Washington would not come to the aid of member states that failed to meet their financial obligations to the group.

"We decided to increase our efforts to make our joint European defence better," German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said at a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

He said this was due to the "challenges and threats" facing Europe, as well as the "change of the administration in Washington in the days to come."

Pistorius was speaking after meeting counterparts from France, Italy, Poland, and the UK in Warsaw on Monday, a week before Trump enters the White House.

Berlin has been the second largest provider of aid to Ukraine after the United States but there have been frequent debates within Germany over the extent of that support.

The Spiegel weekly reported last week that the German government was at odds over whether to approve three billion euros ($3.1 billion) of new military aid to Ukraine.

"This is just a fiscal problem of the government we have to solve and we are working on that," Pistorius said Tuesday, adding he was "optimistic" it would be approved.

Spanish PM says Europe must avoid 'arms race' in defence push
Madrid (AFP) Jan 14, 2025 - Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez warned on Tuesday that Europe must strengthen its defence and security industries in a turbulent world, without being sucked into a "new arms race".

Europe "must wake up once and for all", Sanchez told a conference of ambassadors in Madrid.

"In a world like this, adapting to the geopolitical reality is not enough," he said.

"Europe must be capable of strengthening itself to influence (this reality) and defend (its) interests and values" because countries plagued by "armed terrorist groups", wars and autocracies surround the continent, Sanchez said.

Donald Trump's return to the White House next week has fuelled uncertainty about the United States' commitment to European allies.

The Republican has demanded NATO members ramp up defence spending to five percent of GDP and said he would achieve a swift settlement to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which is approaching the three-year mark.

Despite the shortcomings identified by Sanchez, particularly in European cybersecurity, the Socialist premier said he would "never encourage a militaristic drift that leads us to a new arms race".

"Spain believes in peace and diplomacy as the formula to resolve conflicts and I will always maintain that security goes far beyond defence spending."

With Trump's comments sparking fears that Ukraine will be forced to cede territory to Moscow, Sanchez emphasised the need for "unity" against Russian President Vladimir Putin and a "just and sustainable peace".

Leaders from the European Union, Britain and NATO will gather in Belgium on February 3 for extraordinary defence talks after Trump's inauguration.