The European community currently faces significant international tension, with war raging in both Ukraine and the Gaza strip and the threat of further escalation dominating the news on a daily basis. For some, this once again underscores the need for a joint European defence approach while others make the case for greater focus on the international NATO military alliance.
This then begs the question: would the EU be able to defend itself without the support of NATO? And how long would it take for the 27 member states to increase their arms capacities?
“At the moment we have no self-defence abilities whatsoever ... We all hoped and also believed that the times of arms needs were over, that we were on the right path toward a more peaceful world. But that was a misjudgement”, argued Minister of Defence Francois Bausch in conversation with RTL on Monday.
The Green politician went on to make the case for independent European defence policies, explaining that the continued reliance on the United States poses a problem. Strengthening the EU, however, would in return help reinforce NATO, he noted.
The European Commission recently freed up €800 million to support its arms industry, a move spearheaded by France and Germany. According to Bausch, a unified approach is more favourable than the individual investments made by member states. He cited the close to 20 different tank models in the Union against the single model in the US as an example.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has certainly engendered a mindset change in Europe. While the European arms industry had a €118 million turnover in 2021, the German automotive and arms manufacturer Rheinmetall AG alone increased its profits by 13% in the following year.
Bausch concluded the interview by emphasising the values behind European defence efforts: democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, things that are worth defending, according to the Minister.
