this post was submitted on 18 Feb 2025
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Summary

European officials are preparing a multibillion-dollar defense package to bolster regional security and support Ukraine, announced by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the Munich Security Conference.

The package, potentially valued up to 700 billion euros, will fund military training, arms deliveries, and security guarantees amid concerns over Russian aggression and diminishing U.S. contributions to NATO.

The move follows calls for Europe to boost its own defense spending while U.S.-Russian talks, which exclude Ukraine and Europe, on ending the Ukraine conflict continue.

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[–] xc2215x@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

A brilliant move from Europe.

[–] NotLemming@lemm.ee 23 points 3 days ago (20 children)

I think we should give a nuke to Ukraine. One would be enough to stop all this BS.

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[–] HowRu68@lemmy.world 42 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

It's a bit premature to announce this, but yes VonderLeyen has announced the preparation of a defense package of approx. 700 B via this legal fiscal venue. Together with the EU Competitiveness Compass plan at around a minimum of 750 B, they will likely be aimed to reinforce each other. In addition, other parallel plans are being prepared, pending current developments.

added: Context: EU defense is now at 326 B in 2024 (consilium EU). Though Europe also includes UK and other countries ofcourse.

This newly announced extra package is like a minimum extra budget.

[–] perestroika@lemm.ee 27 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

Don't sigh before any papers are signed, but...

...while they may get stuck for a while passing a measure of this volume (or someone will need to lure Orban out of the room while others push buttons) - the volume is doable.

For comparison, the NextGenerationEU budget allocation (spent in a dozen ways) to help countries recover from COVID damage) was worth 2 trillion euros, and it was possible to pass.

The actual part? Probably multipronged:

  • supercharging EU and Ukrainian arms industries, especially ones that can be expanded fast (drones)
  • reducing formalities that need to be followed
  • buying the weapons some members have in reserve for a Russian attack (because some do)
  • buying the weapons Turkey and Greece have in reserve for each other
  • subsequently, raking the global market (including the US) for weapons that come loose for money
  • allowing Ukraine to pay really attractive salaries to its own soldiers and foreign soldiers

P.S. And jokingly - buying all the optical fiber available in South-East Asia.

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