NATO Summit: Europe’s Real Security Problem Is Not the Budget

European leaders are heading into a tense NATO summit in Ankara on July 7-8. The Trump administration is pushing them to spend more on defense, especially on American weapons. But the authors of a new analysis argue this focus on money is wrong. The European Union and the United Kingdom already spend more than three times what Russia spends on defense. The real question, they say, is not how much to spend, but what to spend it on. Europe faces threats from multiple directions. Russia is a danger from the east, with its war in Ukraine. But the United States, from the west, is also a problem. The Trump administration is pressuring allies with tariffs, threats to take Greenland, and interference in European elections. In the south, the war between the US, Israel, and Iran adds to the instability. The authors say Europe is “trapped between hostile powers.” They argue that the US and Russia share a similar goal: a world where big powers control their own spheres of influence. In this vision, Europe becomes a battlefield. A new European security strategy must reject this. Instead of just buying more American weapons, Europe should focus on protecting its own territory, democracy, and international law. This means investing in defensive weapons, diplomacy, and conflict mediation. The authors also call for a unified European arms industry. Currently, 27 separate national industries create waste and inefficiency. Unifying them would save money and increase independence. Only after deciding on a clear strategic concept, they conclude, should Europe calculate the cost. Starting with a budget, they warn, will only increase dependence on the US and risk sacrificing the social and democratic model Europe wants to protect.