EU, NATO agree to "make more weapons" in race to rearm

According to The Financial News, the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have formalized plans to expand weapons production and strengthen security cooperation. Under pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump and amid the fallout from war in the Middle East, Europe’s security order appears to be entering a phase of restructuring.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen met on the 16th (local time) in Brussels, Belgium, where they discussed expanding defense industrial production and deepening cooperation.
After the meeting, Rutte said, "We discussed ways to cooperate, including expanding defense industrial production, continuing support for Ukraine, and protecting critical infrastructure," adding, "A stronger Europe means a stronger NATO."
Von der Leyen also stated, "We agreed to work closely together to strengthen relations between the EU and NATO," and emphasized, "We must invest more, produce more, and do so more quickly."
The talks took place amid concerns about fractures within the transatlantic alliance. President Donald Trump has voiced dissatisfaction with European allies’ insufficient defense spending and their lack of support for the war in the Middle East, even hinting that the United States could withdraw from NATO.
In response, NATO has been pressing member states to increase defense budgets. At a summit in The Hague last June, allies agreed to raise core defense spending on weapons and troops to as much as 3.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and up to 5% when including military-related infrastructure.
European countries are also accelerating their rearmament. As the perceived threat from Russia grows and the need to reduce dependence on the United States becomes more pressing, the EU is pushing to build up its defense industry, establish a missile defense shield, and strengthen drone defenses along its eastern flank.
However, Europe’s defense industry is struggling to keep up with surging demand. This issue is expected to be a central topic at the NATO summit to be held in early July in Ankara, Republic of Türkiye.
Despite the overall push for closer cooperation, tensions over who will take the lead remain clear. NATO argues that alliance cohesion is essential, noting that the United States covers about 60% of its total budget. The EU, by contrast, is promoting the development of its own defense industry and prioritizing the purchase of European-made weapons, underscoring its drive for strategic autonomy.
NATO believes the EU should focus on its existing roles, such as financing, and is wary of Brussels expanding into the realm of military planning. The EU, on the other hand, is moving to broaden its influence across the entire spectrum of defense policy.
The Financial Times (FT) reported that "the two sides are locked in a power struggle over Europe’s rearmament plans, which are worth as much as 1 trillion dollars (about 1,480 trillion won) a year."

km@fnnews.com Kim Kyung-min Reporter