Germany Agreement on rearmament - and one dissenter on Ukraine aid
In response to the USA's change of course in foreign policy under President Donald Trump, the EU wants to rearm massively.
07.03.2025, 02:24
SDA
However, the 27 heads of state and government cannot find a common line on Ukraine policy because of a single Trump friend: at the EU crisis summit in Brussels, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban did not want to join a joint declaration on continued support for the country attacked by Russia.
The other 26 member states then reaffirmed without him that they continue to fully support the "independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders" - including arms deliveries. They also demanded, among other things, credible security guarantees for an end to the war and that peace negotiations should not take place without Ukrainian or European representatives.
Up to 150 billion euros for loans
The summit declaration on massive investment in the armed forces is more far-reaching. With this, the EU wants to do justice to the growing doubts as to whether Europe can still count on the protection of the USA. All 27 member states backed the EU Commission's initiative in principle, according to which up to 150 billion euros in EU loans are to be made available for defense investments and exceptions to the EU debt rules for defense are to be made possible.
The consultations were based on a plan presented by the EU Commission at the beginning of the week entitled "ReArm Europe". The aim is to mobilize a total of almost 800 billion euros. Among other things, the European Investment Bank (EIB) is to change its lending rules so that more investment in armaments projects can be promoted.
Von der Leyen sees summit as historic
"History is being written today", said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the results. They are determined to invest more, better and faster together. By the next summit in two weeks' time, the Commission will have drawn up detailed proposals on how the resolutions can be legally implemented.
Selensky seeks backing from Europeans
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi also traveled to the summit and thanked the EU for the help it has provided so far. "You have sent a strong signal to the Ukrainian people, to the Ukrainian warriors, to the civilian population, to all our families," he said. "We are very grateful that we are not alone. These are not just words. We feel it." The Ukrainian president, who was recently publicly humiliated by Trump and his vice president J.D. Vance during his visit to the White House, was welcomed with open arms in Brussels.
Macron wants a European nuclear umbrella
French President Emmanuel Macron provided a talking point with his renewed push for a European nuclear umbrella based on French nuclear weapons. He proposed opening a strategic discussion with the member states interested in making progress on this issue, he said after the summit. "Some of my colleagues have come to me." An exchange at a technical level would now be started, followed by talks at the level of heads of state and government. In a few months, it will then become clear whether new cooperation could emerge.
Scholz wants to stay with the NATO system
Outgoing Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), however, wants to retain the current NATO deterrent system based on US nuclear weapons. "Nobody is planning to move away from the current situation, where we have an agreement in NATO. And that is also the common position of all relevant parties in Germany," he said. "I think that is also something that is realistic if you look at the scale of the options for action."
Compared to the European nuclear powers Great Britain and France, the USA has a much larger nuclear arsenal. According to expert estimates, they still have around 100 nuclear bombs stationed in Europe - some of them at the Büchel airbase in the Eifel region. US nuclear bombs are also believed to be stored in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Turkey. There is no official information on this.
