What we know about the upcoming increase in military spending – Liberation

The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced it when leaving London summit on Ukraine This Sunday, March 2: she will present Thursday in Brussels « A global plan on how to rearm Europe » During a special EU defense meeting. With the main watchword increase defense expenses « Over an extended period ». Here are other official statements that go in the direction of a new European arms race.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced this Sunday a new agreement that will allow Kyiv to buy 5,000 air defense missiles made in Belfast, Northern Ireland, for an amount of 1.6 billion pounds Sterling (almost 2 billion euros). The new agreement « Will give a major boost to the British economy and will support 700 existing jobs at Thales in Belfast, which will manufacture more than 5,000 Multiroles (LMM) missiles for the defense of Ukraine »he said. Thanks to this agreement, the production of LMM in the Thales factory will be tripled and will also benefit subcontracting companies across the United Kingdom, welcomed Starmer. The new export financing contract « Will allow Ukraine to mobilize 3.5 billion pounds of export funding to acquire military equipment from British companies »said the British Prime Minister again.

Keir Starmer also confirmed that « The European allies of Ukraine » intend to maintain military aid in Kyiv, and that this budget will come « Assets seized with Russia ». More prudent, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reported a disagreement between the EU countries on the use of Russian assets, some countries that he said expressed the fear of the implications « On the European banking system » and even on « The course of the Euro ». Tusk recalled that the contribution of Poland to NATO was for the moment the highest of the Member States, 4.7% of its GDP, and added that he was happy « May more and more countries go beyond words and declarations to increase their military spending. »

In an interview with Figaro This Sunday evening, the French president called to quickly draw the consequences of American disengagement, by investing heavily in defense Europe. “For three years, Russians have been spending 10% of their GDP in defense. So we have to prepare the rest ”, he alerts, setting a goal « Around 3.5 % of GDP »against 2% for the moment in France, a key issue for him of the extraordinary European summit scheduled for Thursday. « I want the commission to be able to mandate to use innovative funding, said the head of state. That is to say either common loans or the European stability mechanism (which allows you to rescue a state in the event of financial failure, editor's note), To raise considerable amounts together. We undoubtedly need, at first, 200 billion euros to be able to invest. ”

Asked about the subject of the Canadian contribution to NATO, which is below the minimum target of 2% of GDP (1.37% according to the latest figures), Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: « The world has changed »because « The time of peace that we knew after the Cold War is over ». He added: « It is now necessary that countries spend much more in terms of defense, and Canada is no exception. »

NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte, confirmed this Sunday that European countries will « Intensify their efforts »both with regard to their own expenses and their support for Ukraine. He stressed that some countries have already made public statements on the increase in their defense expenses and adds: « I have every reason to believe that other announcements will follow »probably Thursday. « Today, around the table, I heard new announcements, and I will not reveal them to you, because they are in the countries concerned to do so, but it was very good news that more European countries increase their defense expenses »he said.

Questioned by Sky News, Rasmus Jarlov, Chairman of the Danish Parliament Defense Commission, criticized certain European countries « Who doesn't do it enough » According to him to strengthen European defense. “There is no possible comparison between the economies of Europe and Russia. Europe is about fifteen times more economically powerful ”he recalled, concluding that if Europe decided to « Move and help Ukraine »there will be « Only one result: a Ukrainian victory ». Jarlov called European leaders at « Stop talking, stop tweeting, and going to acts by putting the price to send weapons to Ukraine now. »