BRUSSELS (CHATNEWSTV) — European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Wednesday called for stronger defense investment, warning that Europe faces its most significant security challenges since 1945.
“The international order is undergoing changes of the magnitude not seen since 1945. This is a pivotal moment for European security,” Kallas told reporters in Brussels, outlining the EU’s newly adopted White Paper on European Defence and the ReArm Europe Plan ‘Readiness 2030’.
Kallas said the EU’s plan would focus on strengthening European countries against military threats by identifying capability gaps, replenishing ammunition and weapons stocks, and developing large-scale, pan-European defense projects.
“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen Europe’s industry, boost innovation, and create a market for defense equipment,” she said, emphasizing the need for a more unified approach to security.
She also highlighted Ukraine’s role in European defense, stating that the EU must ensure Kyiv remains armed against Russian aggression. “Ukraine must be armed to avoid future attacks. This is a long-term investment in a long-term plan of aggression,” she added.
While some member states have pushed for higher defense spending targets, Kallas said the focus should be on meeting capability requirements rather than specific percentages of GDP. “I wouldn’t get stuck on the numbers, but the new level of ambition is certainly higher than 2%,” she noted.
Kallas also addressed concerns over the exclusion of third countries like the U.K., U.S., and Turkey from certain EU defense projects, saying discussions were ongoing. “We are working on a Defense and Security partnership with the U.K., and I hope we can have results by the upcoming May summit,” she said.
The plan, she argued, is not about preparing for war but ensuring Europe is ready for any crisis. “If you want to prevent war, you need to invest in defense—now, while it’s still peacetime,” Kallas warned.
