Europe Must Take Responsibility for its Defense: Weimar Triangle Calls for Increased Spending and Coordination

European countries must take more responsibility for the defense of Europe by stepping up and sharing the collective burden of defense within NATO, according to foreign ministers from Germany, France, and Poland. In a joint statement, Annalena Baerbock, Stéphane Séjourné, and Radosław Sikorski emphasized the urgent need for Europe to prepare for potential threats from Russian President Vladimir Putin and his imperialist ambitions.

Putin’s actions in Ukraine are a threat to the peace order in Europe and could lead to other parts of Europe being targeted if action is not taken now. The ministers stressed that support for Ukraine is an investment in the strength of Europe as a whole to deter Russian aggression.

To address these deficiencies, the ministers are calling on European countries to increase defense spending to at least two percent of GDP, utilize the industrial potential of Europe to enhance military capabilities, and invest in future technologies to bridge any readiness gaps. They highlighted the importance of better coordination, readiness, production capacity, logistics, and interoperability within European nations to strengthen defense capabilities.

In conclusion, the foreign ministers of the Weimar Triangle underscored the importance of European countries working together to address deficiencies in defense capabilities. They urged Europe to take immediate action now to ensure the safety and security of the continent in the face of growing threats from Russia and other potential adversaries.