The leaders of Northern and Southern Europe have voiced the urgent need for increased investment in defense as they aim to confront the current threat posed by Russia. This call to action came during the North-South Summit held in the Finnish town of Saariselkä, known for its significance as the heart of Sami culture.
Addressing the media, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas stressed the necessity of bolstering defense capabilities. "To avoid war, we really need to do more on defense. We must invest incritical capabilities," she stated, acknowledging the diverse security requirements faced by the EU's different regions east, south, north, and west. Kallas emphasized the collaborative approach needed among member states to tackle these pressing security issues.
The summit also shed light on the rising defense budgets within the EU. According to the latest report from the European Defence Agency, total defense spending has reached record levels of €279 billion, marking a significant 10% increase from the previous year. This uptick reflects the ninth consecutive year of growth, with 22 member states increasing their military expenditure, 11 of which raised it by more than 10%. While Spain and Belgium only allocated about 1.2% of their GDP on defense, countries sharing borders with Russia, such as Poland, Estonia, and Latvia, dedicated significantly higher portions of their budgets at 3.3%, 3%, and 2.9%, respectively.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who participated at the summit, reinforced the viewpoint of approaching defense as not just about military capacity but also as integral to tackling issues including irregular immigration flows from Africa. "The immigration issue has been treated as one about solidarity but I think that's the wrong approach. It's about security," Meloni asserted, pushing for new instruments to manage both defense challenges and migration issues.
Meloni pointed out the geographical significance of Africa, noting the influence of external powers such as China and Russia, stating, "The threat from Russia is much greater than we can possibly envision," thereby urging EU partners to collectively fortify their external borders against possible coercive tactics linked to migration.
The discussions surrounding the upcoming US administration under President-elect Donald Trump also took center stage at the summit. Trump has previously advocated for swift negotiations with Russia to resolve the conflict in Ukraine, raising concerns about potential reductions to US financial commitments to Ukraine. Despite these apprehensions, sources close to Trump have indicated intentions to continue supplying military equipment to Ukraine upon his inauguration.
When addressing Trump’s impact on NATO relations, Meloni emphasized the importance of maintaining support for Ukraine. "I expect to understand the true intentions of the new US president or NATO," she stated, reflecting the caution and uncertainty surrounding future alliances.
Throughout the summit, European leaders repeatedly underscored the ideals of unity, collaboration, and increased funding for defense capabilities. The consensus was clear: the heightened Russian threat necessitates decisive action, which relies not just on defensive budgets but also on shared tactics to face multi-dimensional security challenges together.
