EU leaders move to step up defence efforts against Russia

European Union leaders on Monday agreed to intensify efforts to bolster their defences against Russia and other threats by hiking spending and filling gaps in their military capabilities.

The president of the European Council of EU leaders, Antonio Costa, stated this after a summit on defence in Brussels.

“A lot has been done already but we need to do more. We need to do it better, stronger, faster – and we need to do it together,” he said.

However, the leaders left largely unanswered the question of how their planned surge in defence spending would be paid for.

It was gathered that the European countries have already ramped up defence spending in recent years, in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and a growing view that they cannot rely so much on the United States to protect the continent in years to come.

Their efforts have been fuelled by questions about US President Donald Trump’s commitment to the NATO security alliance and by his demands for European nations to spend more on the continent’s defences.

GOSSIP UNION gathered that the start of the EU summit was overshadowed by Trump declaring at the weekend that he will soon impose tariffs on imports from the EU, having ordered similar measures on goods from Canada and Mexico – which were paused on Monday – and from China.

Speaking with reporters, Costa said the EU leaders agreed to focus on filling critical gaps in their defences such as air and missile defence, missiles, ammunition and military transport.

The leaders discussed how such priorities could be funded but did not reach a detailed agreement.

The European Commission, however, agreed to look for flexibility in rules it oversees on EU countries’ public finances to make defence spending easier.

“Europe needs, basically, a surge in defence. And for that, our defence industrial base must be strengthened,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters after the summit.