Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Poland are calling on the EU to double its defense spending, as these member states bordering Russia believe urgent defense needs amount to at least EUR 100 billion.
This was reported by Bloomberg with reference to a document drawn up by Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Poland, Ukrinform reports.
The document calls on the EU to use joint borrowing, allow the European Investment Bank to spend money on basic defense needs and cooperate with European partners beyond the bloc, apparently referring to the United Kingdom.
The four countries that lead the initiative to defend Ukraine from Russian invasion estimate that current EU military spending will be around EUR 326 billion in 2025.
The document concludes that this figure must double if the bloc is to meet its spending target of at least 3% of GDP and be prepared for “military contingencies.”
The EU is currently drafting a new defense strategy, and bloc leaders will meet informally in Brussels next Monday to put forward their proposals. The draft is due to be finalized in March and adopted by the end of the year.
While most member states agree that the EU’s defense capabilities, industry, and overall preparedness need to be overhauled, members’ views on how to achieve this vary. Some countries, including Germany, have long resisted employing joint borrowing for defense purposes.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has previously said the EU should invest at least EUR 500 billion in defense over the next decade, but the text of the document refers to urgent needs that cannot wait until the next budget cycle in 2028.
The document warns that Russia has already begun to build up its armed forces and produces three times more artillery rounds than Europe and the United States combined. The bloc also faces other challenges due to its dependence on Beijing for its supply chain and Moscow’s deepening ties with China, Iran, and North Korea.
According to the document, the EU’s demands include at least EUR 50 billion to increase artillery production and strategic stocks.
As Ukrinform reported, on January 18, the largest party in the European Parliament already called on the EU to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2027.
Source: Four countries bordering Russia call on EU to allocate EUR 100B for defense
