European Council President Charles Michel advocates for bolstering Europe’s defense capabilities in response to the looming threat posed by Russia.
In an article published across European newspapers and on Euractiv, Michel emphasizes the need for Europe to take charge of its security and reduce reliance on external support, particularly from the United States.
Michel warns that failure to adequately assist Ukraine in countering Russian aggression could leave Europe vulnerable to similar threats in the future. He underscores the urgency for Europe to be prepared defensively and to adopt a war economy mindset, stating, “If we want peace, we must prepare for war.”
Despite some progress made since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Michel notes that Europe’s investment in security and defense has been insufficient for decades. He calls for significant ramp-up in military production capacity and urges European Union countries to provide robust support to Ukraine, including through investment in military equipment and utilizing frozen Russian assets to procure weapons for Ukraine.
Furthermore, Michel advocates for facilitating investment in defense and suggests exploring changes to the European Investment Bank’s mandate to enable support for the European defense industry. This, he believes, will contribute to strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities and ensuring its readiness to confront external threats effectively.
Source: ANA-MPA, Translated by: Konstantinos Menyktas