Europe, in light of shifting U.S. defense priorities, needs to accelerate efforts to achieve defense autonomy and work in close cooperation with Ukraine, European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius said at the annual European Defence Agency conference.
“We are currently facing the greatest security crisis of our lives. But I am optimistic. This crisis will also make us stronger,” the commissioner said.
Kubilius emphasized that Europe remains a “sleeping giant” in defense matters. The EU must pursue greater defense autonomy, developing it alongside NATO and Ukraine, taking into account the new priorities of the United States.
“In the U.S. National Defense Strategy published last week, it was made very clear: their strategic priorities are the Indo-Pacific region and the Western Hemisphere, and they expect us Europeans to take responsibility for conventional defense in Europe. This is because the Americans will reduce their presence on the European continent,” Kubilius noted.
He also rejected the notion that EU institutions would be responsible for defense:
“This is the task of member states. The European Commission’s role is to fully support member states in carrying out this work, providing EU added value, EU laws, EU funding, coordination, and scale.”
Kubilius cited successful examples such as the European Defence Fund and other defense programs. Under the SAFE program, with €150 billion allocated, the European Commission has approved 16 national investment plans and submitted them to the EU Council, with three more under review.
The EU is also working with member states and Ukraine on priorities under the European Defence Industrial Programme (EDIP), particularly missile production.
“I will go on a ‘missile tour,’ ask industry how many missiles can be produced, identify weaknesses in the supply chains, and use this missile ‘mapping’ to boost defense efforts,” Kubilius said.
He also announced that a “Drone Alliance” will soon be established with Ukraine.
The commissioner called for developing EU-level strategic capabilities on which the EU is currently critically dependent on the U.S., including strategic airlift, aerial refueling, missile defense, space intelligence and surveillance data, and command and control capabilities.
“In a world of giants, we must also become a giant,” Kubilius stressed.
