Bloc has to replenish stocks of armies, increase defense capabilities, reduce excessive dependencies, and also provide military support to Ukraine, argues foreign policy chief
The EU foreign policy chief on Wednesday said Europe invests 10 times less in military innovation and research compared to the US, affecting its defense capabilities.
"The Europeans all together, we invest on military innovation, research and development 10 times less than the US, exactly 10 times less they invest," Josep Borrell said in his address at the European Defense and Security Conference in Brussels, calling it not enough innovation and investment to cope with competitors.
For this "vicious circle" to be broken, the EU has to replenish the stocks of armies, increase defense capabilities, reduce excessive dependencies, and, at the same time, provide military support to Ukraine at the right level.
With the continent surrounded by an "arc of fire" from Gibraltar to the Baltic – spanning conflicts in Ukraine, the Caucasus, the Middle East, Sudan, and the Sahel – he said there is a growing importance of security and defense policy for the EU, calling it an "integral part" of the role of the high representative.
He pointed to the significant military support provided to Ukraine – over €42 billion through the European Peace Facility – but acknowledged that this support has often been delayed, costing lives.
"Every time it took too long, every time that we increase the quality of our support, we spend months discussing by doing what was decided or proposed at the beginning. And this is something in which I feel guilty," he said. "We should have done the same thing quicker, and this delay has been measured in terms of lives."
"If we had been more assertive from the beginning, providing Ukraine with the arms that we finally provided them, maybe the war would be different," he added.
He said the transition from basic supplies to advanced military equipment by EU to Ukraine was a "game changer" in the conflict that continues since February 2022.
Borrell said long-term involvement of the US in European security is becoming increasingly "uncertain," emphasizing the need for Europe to bolster its own defense mechanisms.
