EU Leaders Push for Increased Defence Spending Amid Russian Threat and Global Instability

Renewed Calls for European Defence Investment

At the recent North-South summit held in Inari, Finland, EU leaders stressed the urgent need to bolster defence spending amid growing security threats, particularly from Russia. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas emphasized that strengthening Europe’s security infrastructure is crucial to preventing future conflicts.
“To prevent war, we really need to do more on defence. We have to invest in critical capabilities,” Kallas stated, noting that while security challenges differ across regions, they remain deeply interconnected and require a unified European response.

Russia’s destabilizing activities have heightened tensions across Europe, driving home the importance of a coordinated effort to reinforce the continent’s defence capabilities.

EU Defence Spending Reaches New Heights

The call for increased investment comes as the European Defence Agency’s 2023 Defence Data report shows EU defence spending reached €279 billion, a 10% rise compared to the previous year. This marks the ninth consecutive year of growth, setting a new record for defence budgets across the EU.

However, spending levels vary significantly. Border states like Poland (3.3% of GDP), Estonia (3%), and Latvia (2.9%) allocated far higher shares of their national income to defence compared to countries such as Spain and Belgium, which each spent only about 1.2% of GDP.
This imbalance reflects differing threat perceptions across the bloc, underlining the need for a more coordinated and equitable approach to strengthening European defence.

Trump’s Return and Future Transatlantic Security Ties

The summit also addressed growing concerns about the transatlantic alliance in light of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s upcoming second term. Trump has previously questioned U.S. involvement in Ukraine, prompting fears in Europe about the continuity of American support.

Although some anxiety remains, sources close to Trump suggest the U.S. intends to maintain military aid to Ukraine. Nonetheless, Trump’s foreign policy team is expected to pressure NATO allies to significantly raise their defence spending to 5% of GDP—well above current levels.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni responded by reaffirming Europe’s commitment to Ukraine.
“To have peace, we need to support Ukraine,” Meloni said, urging EU countries to continue backing Kyiv regardless of future shifts in U.S. policy. She added that European leaders should wait for clearer signals from the incoming U.S. administration before making additional strategic adjustments.