More than a rearming policy, EU needs an independent foreign policy

The European Commission recently introduced a ReArm Europe Plan, which proposes to raise €150 billion ($161.68 billion) in the capital markets for the European Union member states as a loan for increasing investment in defense.

However, France, Italy, and Spain rejected the proposal, insisting that the EU should provide grants instead of loans to avoid adding to their national debt burdens.

Given how the US is shifting its policies toward Europe, reducing dependence on the US and achieving defense autonomy has become a common goal among European nations.

However, there are various challenges to Europe's defense autonomy.

On March 19, on the eve of an EU summit, the European Commission unveiled the White Paper for European Defense — Readiness 2030. At the summit, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said this was a "watershed moment" for Europe and announced an €800 billion "Rearming Europe" plan, of which only the aforementioned €150 billion is real money available as a loan.

Although Von der Leyen's proposal received broad support in principle, the rejection by France, Italy, and Spain shows how EU member states remain divided on the issue.

These divergences are not without justification. An additional €800 billion is a significant financial burden for the EU nations. As early as March 12, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde had warned in Frankfurt that "Trade fragmentation and higher defense spending in a capacity-constrained sector could in principle push up inflation".

Earlier this month at an emergency summit, 26 of the 27 EU member states signed a joint declaration in support of Ukraine, but they failed to reach an agreement on the specific amount and form of assistance.

Furthermore, Europe's defense industry remains deeply embedded in US supply chains. As the Huffington Post noted in a March 12 editorial, over the past five years, "NATO members in Europe have more than doubled their arms imports. Sixty-four percent of these come from the United States".

Within NATO, European countries have specialized in different military capabilities, resulting in a fragmented defense landscape. Military experts warn that this "patchwork arsenal" not only drives up maintenance costs but also weakens Europe's rapid-response capabilities. The EU is beginning to recognize that Europe's biggest defense challenge is not geopolitical turbulence but the fragmented procurement strategies of its own member states.

An even greater challenge lies in its mindset. After World War II, with European economies and militaries significantly weakened, the US stepped in with the Marshall Plan to aid Europe's recovery. In 1949, the US spearheaded the creation of NATO, which became the foundation of European security for decades. The belief that "security comes from the US" has long been Europe's greatest vulnerability in defense.

Now, Europe lacks both the strategic decision-making framework and the defense industry capacity necessary to end its dependency. On top of that, overcoming internal conflicts of interest will be major hurdles. A single white paper alone cannot resolve these deep-rooted challenges.

Addressing the European Parliament on Feb 19, Jeffrey Sachs, an economist from Columbia University, emphasized that Europe lacks an independent foreign policy and must develop a "real" and autonomous diplomatic approach that reflects its unique geopolitical context and interests.

That is what Europe truly needs.