Europe’s summer of turning money into munitions
German defense giant Rheinmetall inaugurated the continent’s largest munitions factory this week. The Unterlüss facility is set to produce up to 350,000 155 mm artillery shells annually starting in 2027, a critical resource for modern warfare as evidenced by Ukraine’s ongoing conflict. The project received €20.6 million in EU funding, with an additional €47 million allocated for Rheinmetall’s explosive powder factory in Romania.
EU defense spending is increasingly emerging from unexpected budgets. A notable case is a Latvian drone factory, which will be visited by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen this weekend and is financed through post-pandemic recovery funds.
One of the most significant innovations is Ukraine’s Flamingo cruise missile, boasting a 3,000-kilometer range. Without Western funding, Kyiv would struggle to develop the domestic systems required to target Russian assets deep within the country.
Over the coming days in Denmark, EU defense and foreign ministers will discuss strategies to maintain financial support for these initiatives, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in enhancing military capabilities, reports 24brussels.
Copenhagen calling
At the heart of the agenda for EU defense and foreign ministers in Copenhagen is planning and decision-making on key defense projects.
Who’s taking the lead?
On Friday, EU member states will determine their willingness to lead or participate in nine large-scale defense projects pitched by the Commission in a White Paper earlier this year, covering areas from air defense to maritime awareness. Countries will present their expectations regarding the “capability coalitions” required for each initiative, according to guiding questions shared with the ministers.
Natural leaders have emerged in the ongoing support for Ukraine, with the Netherlands and Denmark spearheading the delivery of F-16s and France leading on missile systems.
Ministers will also outline their expectations regarding the Readiness Roadmap, which will guide defense efforts until 2030 through established milestones, timelines, and progress indicators. A focal point will be how best to involve Ukraine in these discussions.
Moreover, the EU’s operations around the world are lacking in personnel and equipment. The ministers aim to strategize on how to encourage member states to engage more in these efforts.
Shaping more military aid for Ukraine
The foreign ministers will explore further options for utilizing revenue from frozen Russian assets within the EU, although no significant breakthroughs are anticipated, given the hesitance of countries like Belgium regarding the appropriation of Russian funds.
EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas has suggested deploying these funds to facilitate the delivery of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, funded through the European Peace Facility. Hungary, however, remains opposed to this strategy.
Discussions will also revolve around the proposed “reassurance force” for Ukraine post-ceasefire. However, an explicit role for the EU in this matter is not expected just yet, as security guarantees remain unresolved.
The prospect of relocating EU training for Ukrainian soldiers (EUMAM) back onto their own territory post-ceasefire is also anticipated, with the Commission emphasizing the urgency of initiating preparations.
The leaders of the Coalition of the Willing are expected to outline the specifics of the reassurance force next week, though not all key players are currently committed to the initiative.
