The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has significantly altered the European defense landscape, with a substantial shift in military procurement contracts, valued at over $50 billion, flowing towards the United States. This trend, highlighted in a report by Mario Draghi, former Prime Minister of Italy and former President of the European Central Bank, has raised concerns about the impact on the European Union’s (EU) own defense capabilities.
EU Defense Spending and Dependency on U.S. Arms
According to Draghi’s Landmark EU Competitiveness Report, the EU member states have purchased a significant portion of their weapons from abroad, with approximately two-thirds originating from the United States. This shift has been exacerbated by the increased defense spending in Europe following the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
The report indicates that while NATO member states, most of which are also EU members, have been increasing their defense budgets, aiming for at least 2% of their GDP to be allocated to defense, the actual investment levels in the EU remain low. In 2022, the defense research and development expenditure of the 27 EU member states totaled 107 billion euros (about 118 billion dollars), which accounted for only 4.5% of the total. In contrast, the U.S. allocated approximately 1400 billion dollars, accounting for around 16% of its defense spending.
European Defense Industrial Disparities
The report also emphasizes the disparities within the European defense industry, highlighting a lack of investment in creating stronger defense enterprises and a failure to leverage the region’s collective defense industrial capabilities. The report criticizes the EU for not capitalizing on its strong defense industrial base, instead distributing resources across multiple countries and organizations.
For instance, when Ukraine requested European countries to provide artillery, the EU offered up to 10 different types of howitzers, including the French Caesar, the British AS-90, the German PzH 2000, and the Polish Krab. Despite their 155mm口径的一致性, they required different ammunition, leading to additional logistical burdens.
European Countries’ Reluctance to Internal Procurement
The report suggests that while purchasing some weapons from the U.S. may be reasonable due to the absence of certain products on the EU’s weapons list, the EU often opts for foreign procurement even when similar products are available domestically, thereby harming its defense capabilities.
The Impact on Europe’s Defense Industry
The report also notes that the insufficient investment in research and development and follow-on orders has severely impacted the scale and production capacity of European defense enterprises. This has led to a situation where the EU finds it challenging to increase supply when Ukraine urgently needs weapons.
Conclusion
The shift in defense spending from the EU to the U.S. amid the Russia-Ukraine conflict has significant implications for the European defense industry and the EU’s overall defense capabilities. While the U.S. has benefited from the increased arms contracts, the EU must address the underlying issues within its defense industry to ensure long-term security and self-sufficiency.
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