Europe must take its defence into its own hands, without foreign dependence

Europe must take its defence into its own hands, without foreign dependence

Published in Libération, March 5, 2025

While a European Council is scheduled for Thursday, March 6, to “announce financial measures to strengthen European defence,” a group of more than 40 MEPs is unanimous: spending more on arms is not enough: this money must also guarantee strategic autonomy.
The European Union is at a turning point. The United States is reorienting its priorities, Russia is spending 10% of its GDP on defense, and Europe is realizing that it must do more for its own security. In the face of new threats, we no longer have the luxury of indifference. We must invest massively in our European defence.
For several years now, the European Union has been initiating change. Under the impetus of Commissioner Thierry Breton, initiatives such as ASAP and EDIRPA have been established to accelerate the production and procurement of military equipment in Europe. Today, we know that the new commissioner, Andrius Kubilius, is fully mobilized. But rearming is not just about buying more weapons—it is about ensuring that we control the ones we have.
An army that depends on foreign equipment runs the risk of being denied its use in a crisis. Recent history reminds us of this: Colombia wanted to buy Swedish Gripen aircraft, but the United States threatened to block the sale because these aircraft contained American components. More recently, Germany wanted to deliver ammunition to Ukraine, but Switzerland blocked the transfer.
If we want a strong European defence, we must ensure that every euro invested is used to equip our armies with weapons designed and produced within the European Union. The purchase of armaments outside Europe must be limited to very exceptional circumstances (for example, in the event of a production shortage). Our European industries have the expertise to manufacture combat aircraft, tanks, satellites, missiles, and high-performance defence systems. Every European country has the potential to develop skills and production capacities in the defence industry.
What is lacking is a clear and determined political will: to invest in order to produce and buy European. This weekend, European leaders and allies met to discuss the future of our collective security. They acknowledged the need to increase defence budgets in Europe. But spending more is not enough – this money must also guarantee our strategic autonomy.
President Ursula von der Leyen has called for a budgetary effort of 800 billion euros to rearm the European Union. This is a good sign. But this money must be invested in Europe, for Europe. It must strengthen our own industries, our own infrastructure, and our own technologies – and not be used to buy equipment that makes us dependent.
We no longer have a choice. Either we become a power capable of defending itself, or we remain a market dependent on foreign suppliers.On Thursday, European leaders will have to choose. The time for half measures is over. Defence is not just a budgetary variable; it is a strategic choice – a vital issue for our future and that of our children.