Strengthening European security through collaborative defence efforts

This week I have attended two commemorative services for lives lost in war here in Luxembourg. The floral tributes at the base of the Gella Fra serve as an important reminder of the horrors of war in Europe, remembered most by the eldest within our communities. Yet you do not have to look far to see the threat to Europe’s freedoms as our Ukrainian friends battle the attacks on their sovereign territory.

In these challenging times, international security has taken on a new urgency. The once-familiar refrain "If you want peace, prepare for war" has become more than a saying; it's an imperative. As threats grow and the global landscape becomes more volatile, governments must take decisive steps to ensure safety and stability.

This is why, during his recent visit to British troops in Poland, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a significant boost in the UK's defence spending. Britain will increase defence funding by an additional £75 billion between now and 2030, aiming to spend 2.5% of its GDP on defence. This commitment, which exceeds the often-cited NATO target of 2%, reflects the UK’s resolve to meet current and future security challenges.

Despite the economic pressures, the UK government recognizes the need to invest in defence to counter increasingly coordinated threats from states like Russia, Iran and China. These countries are not just bolstering their military capabilities; they are also focusing on cyber warfare and other advanced technologies, like the cyber-attacks Luxembourg experienced just last month. Their intentions, coupled with their growing military and cyber warfare capabilities, threaten our safety not just in Luxembourg or in the UK but across Europe and beyond.

To address these threats, in the UK we have identified three primary priorities for our defence investment. We have recognised the imperative need to strengthen the UK’s defence industrial base, to modernise the Armed Forces with advanced technologies and to continue our long-term support for Ukraine. The UK government is therefore injecting £10 billion into munitions production, giving industry the certainty required to ramp up the production of essential military equipment. It is also investing in cutting-edge technology, increasing research and development spending to embrace innovations that have proven effective on the battlefield. Added to this, the UK's commitment to Ukraine remains unwavering, with an additional £500 million in defence support. This includes urgently needed munitions, more than 400 vehicles, millions of rounds of ammunition, air defences and long-range precision-guided missiles.

Ukraine's struggle against Russian aggression is the front line in the battle to protect European security interests and our enhanced support is crucial. The UK's assistance to Ukraine, totalling £3 billion this financial year alone, reflects its leadership in NATO and underscores the broader commitment to collective security. Our intent to accelerating defence spending to 2.5% of GDP is a rallying call for other NATO allies to follow suit, emphasizing the need for unified action to address the complex security environment.

In this context, Luxembourg's recent move to significantly increase its defence budget is a much-welcomed development. It is good news that the Luxembourg government has committed to reaching 2% GNI, a significant milestone in defence spending, and reinforced this with the largest single investment in defence in Luxembourg’s history with 2.6 billion euros earmarked for the binational armoured battalion. The acquisition of advanced combat vehicles and the creation of a binational battalion with Belgium demonstrate Luxembourg's commitment to strengthening its defensive capabilities and contributing to collective security. As Defence Minister Yuriko Backes has emphasised, this investment will allow Luxembourg to continue its contribution to collective defence efforts, reinforcing its position as a reliable partner within NATO and the EU.

Given the increasingly complex and unpredictable security environment, it is absolutely critical for all NATO members to collaborate and strengthen their defence infrastructure. The UK’s enhanced spending and Luxembourg’s unprecedented investment are both steps in the right direction. Together, these efforts demonstrate that European security is not just a national concern—it requires unified action from all allies to ensure a safer and more stable future. Now is the time for urgency and action, for the free world to come together and demonstrate unity and unwavering commitment to defence and security in Luxembourg and across Europe.

© Musée National d'Histoire Militaire

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