EU Unveils a 800 Billion Euro Plan to Strengthen Its Defense and Support Ukraine

Relaxing Budget Rules to Allow Massive Investments in European Defense
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled an ambitious plan on Tuesday, March 4, to “rearm Europe” and strengthen its defense in the face of growing geopolitical threats. This plan will allow the European Union to mobilize nearly 800 billion euros for defense spending, including 150 billion euros in loans available to the 27 member states. It aims to not only enhance Europe’s resilience but also to provide immediate assistance to Ukraine, which continues to fight Russian aggression.

“The time has come for Europe,” declared Ursula von der Leyen, asserting that the EU must prepare for increasingly complex challenges, including a possible U.S. withdrawal from global affairs. This plan should allow member states to support Ukraine more effectively while ensuring their own security. The president specified that this support would include “immediate military aid” for Ukraine to strengthen its defense capabilities.

A Strategic Plan to Anticipate the Impact of U.S. Withdrawal and Strengthen European Solidarity
As part of the plan, Ursula von der Leyen also proposed relaxing European budget rules to allow member states to significantly increase their defense spending without triggering the excessive deficit procedure. This measure is designed to facilitate investments in military equipment and meet the urgent needs of member countries to maintain their security.

This initiative comes at a time when the European Union is looking to compensate for a potential gradual withdrawal of the United States, which recently suspended part of its aid to Ukraine. The EU thus aims to play an increasingly central role in defense matters, strengthening the continent’s strategic autonomy in the face of growing internal and external challenges.

Europe Faces a New Era of Global Geopolitics: Support for Ukraine and Reaffirming European Commitment
The President of the Commission also addressed the broader geopolitical implications of this plan. France, for example, has expressed its disagreement with using frozen Russian assets to finance European military spending, emphasizing that it would violate international agreements. This debate comes amid rising geopolitical tensions and with the United States, although announcing a “pause” in its military aid to Ukraine, seemingly focusing its strategic priorities elsewhere.

Furthermore, this plan is set against a backdrop where Ukraine continues to fight for its sovereignty. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reiterated his calls for international security guarantees for his country, stressing that the lack of such guarantees allowed Russia to launch its large-scale invasion. According to him, Ukraine needs consistent support, not only in terms of military equipment but also on the diplomatic front.