EU Boosts Defence Spending Amid 'Tough Love' from Trump Administration

Economy

EU Boosts Defence Spending Amid 'Tough Love' from Trump Administration

6 months ago

News sources:

CHANNELNEWSASIA

TRTGLOBAL

INDIATIMES 2

EU Boosts Defence Spending Amid 'Tough Love' from Trump Administration

Credited from: INDIATIMES

EU's Kaja Kallas praises US push for defense spending as 'tough love'
Europe emphasizes interlinked security with Asia-Pacific
Increased NATO spending aims to reduce dependency on US military support

The European Union's diplomatic chief, Kaja Kallas, announced at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that the EU is increasing its defence spending in response to "tough love" from the Trump administration. Kallas humorously remarked, "It's love nonetheless. So it's better than no love," while addressing the US's persistent calls for NATO allies to invest around 5 percent of their GDP on defense, according to Channel News Asia and TRT Global.

Kallas highlighted the necessity for Europe to bolster its defence, emphasizing that "the security of Europe and the security of the Pacific is very much interlinked." Furthermore, she noted recent developments such as North Korean soldiers' involvement in Ukraine and China supplying military hardware to Russia, making the case for stronger transregional defense ties, according to India Times and India Times.

John Hegseth, the US Defense Secretary, has previously stated the importance of European allies taking ownership of their own security. The EU's shift towards a "global security partner" role indicates a response to Trump's insistence on reduced reliance on US military support, further highlighting a changing strategic landscape in transatlantic relations, as noted by TRT Global and Channel News Asia.