European leaders are pushing for greater investment in homegrown defense technologies to reduce reliance on U.S. weapons and strengthen the continent’s industrial base. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized the importance of buying more European-made defense equipment, stating, “We must buy more European. Because that means strengthening the European defense technological and industrial base.”
A recent report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) revealed that European NATO members have become increasingly dependent on U.S. weapons. Between 2020 and 2024, European arms imports from the U.S. surged by 155% compared to the 2015-2019 period. This growing reliance has sparked calls for Europe to boost its own defense capabilities.
Under a new EU proposal, defense companies from the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Türkiye would be excluded from a planned loan program unless their governments sign security agreements with the EU. This move aligns with French President Emmanuel Macron’s long-standing advocacy for prioritizing European defense equipment. In a recent interview with French media, Macron said, “Those who buy Patriot [missile systems] should be offered the new-generation Franco-Italian SAMP/T. Those who buy the F-35 [fighter jets] should be offered the Rafale. That’s the way to increase the rate of production.”
EU leaders are set to discuss these defense proposals during a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday. The talks will also cover other critical issues, including the bloc’s economic competitiveness, the EU budget, and irregular migration.
Juan Moscoso del Prado, a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations, argued that the EU should support private companies through defense-focused industrial policies to enhance their competitiveness. In a commentary on the council’s website, he wrote, “As the events of last month make alarmingly clear, Europeans are now operating in a more hostile and unpredictable geopolitical environment. The question of how they now defend themselves is more pressing than ever. Enhancing the competitiveness and productivity of the European defense industry is a long-term necessity.”
Giuseppe Spatafora, a researcher at the EU Institute for Security Studies, echoed this sentiment, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that while Europe cannot immediately end its reliance on the U.S., it can reduce risks by investing in strategic capabilities. Meanwhile, Joel Atkinson, a lecturer at Monash University based in Seoul, South Korea, commented on the EU’s new defense strategy, noting, “Wow, Japan and South Korea can participate, [but the] U.S. and UK cannot.”
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