European Union leaders reached a landmark agreement on coordinated defence spending at an emergency summit in Brussels, committing member states to raise military budgets to 2.5% of GDP by 2028 amid continuing pressure on the continent’s eastern flank.
The deal, brokered after two days of intensive negotiations, establishes a new EU Defence Investment Fund worth €150 billion and introduces joint procurement mechanisms for ammunition, air defence systems and military vehicles.
A New Era for European Security
The agreement marks a significant shift in European strategic thinking. For decades, the continent relied heavily on the US-led NATO umbrella. The new framework signals a determination to build genuine European defence autonomy.
“This is a historic moment for European security,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “We are building the foundations of a Europe that can defend itself.”
The agreement still requires ratification by national parliaments in several member states, and analysts warn that implementing the spending commitments will be a significant fiscal challenge for some economies.