New EU defense commissioner Andrius Kubilius has warned that the European Union must rapidly strengthen its defense capabilities as it could face a potential confrontation with Russia within six to eight years, according to Reuters.
Kubilius, the first-ever EU commissioner for defense and a former prime minister of Lithuania, sees his role as complementary to NATO rather than competitive. The EU defense chief clarified that while the European Union won’t have defense plans or military leadership like NATO, it possesses tools for securing more funding, which NATO lacks.
Kubilius emphasized the need for swift and ambitious decisions to prepare for possible military challenges.
“If we take these assessments seriously, then that is the time for us to properly prepare, and it is a short one. This means we have to take quick decisions, and ambitious decisions,” he stated.
Voice of America says the 67-year-old commissioner will be responsible for joint European defense projects, including protection against air and cyber attacks. Kubilius has long been an advocate for developing Europe’s arms industry, increasing investment in European weapons, and promoting joint procurement.
According to Reuters, Kubilius said that NATO defense ministers and generals agree that Russian President Vladimir Putin could be ready for a confrontation with NATO and the EU in 6-8 years. This assessment has pushed security to the top of the EU’s political agenda following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Kubilius plans to work alongside EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, former Estonian PM, to assess the resources needed for the European Union to be prepared for a military challenge. He aims to complete this study within his first 100 days in office.
The commissioner highlighted that the European defense industry is in an “unsatisfactory condition” due to a lack of investment exceeding one trillion euros over the decade following the financial crisis. He expressed a desire to invest over 500 billion euros in developing Europe’s defense industry over the next few years, though he acknowledged uncertainty about the source of these funds.
Kubilius proposed several potential avenues for expanding the defense industry, including issuing joint defense bonds, utilizing funds from the European Recovery and Resilience Facility, or involving the European Investment Bank.
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