Media reports said as much as $700 billion could be allocated to Europe's defenses, though it was not clear how much of that amount would go to Kyiv.

Summary

European officials are preparing a multibillion-dollar defense package to bolster regional security and support Ukraine, announced by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the Munich Security Conference.

The package, potentially valued up to 700 billion euros, will fund military training, arms deliveries, and security guarantees amid concerns over Russian aggression and diminishing U.S. contributions to NATO.

The move follows calls for Europe to boost its own defense spending while U.S.-Russian talks, which exclude Ukraine and Europe, on ending the Ukraine conflict continue.

  • perestroika@lemm.eeEnglish
    281·
    3 days ago

    Don’t sigh before any papers are signed, but…

    …while they may get stuck for a while passing a measure of this volume (or someone will need to lure Orban out of the room while others push buttons) - the volume is doable.

    For comparison, the NextGenerationEU budget allocation (spent in a dozen ways) to help countries recover from COVID damage) was worth 2 trillion euros, and it was possible to pass.

    The actual part? Probably multipronged:

    • supercharging EU and Ukrainian arms industries, especially ones that can be expanded fast (drones)
    • reducing formalities that need to be followed
    • buying the weapons some members have in reserve for a Russian attack (because some do)
    • buying the weapons Turkey and Greece have in reserve for each other
    • subsequently, raking the global market (including the US) for weapons that come loose for money
    • allowing Ukraine to pay really attractive salaries to its own soldiers and foreign soldiers

    P.S. And jokingly - buying all the optical fiber available in South-East Asia.

    • subarctictundra@lemmy.worldEnglish
      1·
      2 days ago

      subsequently, raking the global market (including the US) for weapons that come loose for money

      Ultimately they will have to come round to producing their own, no?