Budget hikes test shared European Union spending goals – By Tom Kington (Defense News) / March 25, 2022
ROME — The billions of euros in additional defense spending promised by European governments after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have made the German phrase “Zeitenwende,” referencing a turning point for a more muscular military posture, look like an understatement.
Germany announced it will spend an extra 100 billion euros on armaments over five to 10 years, while even the Italian parliament — traditionally dubious about defense — backed a vote to push Italian spending to 2% of GDP, making clear just how fast things are moving.
The talk of extra cash has come with bold statements about shared new programs and industry cooperation — a logical corollary of the newfound military vigor on the continent.
But experts are cautious, warning the exact opposite may happen as nations worry about protecting their own, strategic defense industries in a time of war and focus the funds on domestic programs, draining resources from European initiatives and delaying, rather than accelerating, a coherent European defense capability.
