EU lags behind in meeting defense objectives

A new report on the European Union’s defense readiness points to significant shortcomings, said the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas today at the start of the Union’s defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels.

Kallas stated that much has been done and that investments in defense have increased, but that there are still many gaps in defense capabilities that need to be filled.

Although Kallas did not go into details of the analysis, the German agency dpa reports that the authors of the report primarily cited serious deficits in air defense, drones, and ammunition reserves.

The report assessed that the efforts made so far are not sufficient to resolve these shortcomings and to decisively strengthen European defense capabilities as planned by 2030.

The goal of the plan is for the EU’s defense potential to become so great that it can deter any possible Russian aggression against an EU member state.

German State Secretary for Defense Sebastian Hartmann, who is attending the meeting in place of Minister Boris Pistorius, said that Europe still holds beliefs from a time when security challenges could be met without much innovation, investment in defense, or cooperation. He called on EU member states to increase their defense budgets, as Germany has done.

“Why should the European defense industry develop its capacities if European countries have not made it clear that they will buy its products,” Hartmann said, adding that there are positive signals, but that further steps must be taken.

Hartmann said that the report, which will henceforth be compiled annually, also highlights progress. As examples, he cited naval military forces, military mobility, and potential for land defense.

The report, compiled by the European Defense Agency (EDA) with the help of the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS), headed by Kaja Kallas, will be discussed at the EU summit in October.