EU strengthens resilience and pursues strategic autonomy
Updated
Updated · 코리아타임스 · May 7
EU strengthens resilience and pursues strategic autonomy
15 articles · Updated · 코리아타임스 · May 7
Ahead of Europe Day, EU ambassador Ugo Astuto highlighted shifts across defence, trade and diplomacy, including deeper ties with South Korea and support for Ukraine.
He said Europe had done more on defence in the past year than in decades, while expanding trade deals, diversifying supply chains and reducing reliance on single suppliers.
Astuto said the EU would uphold international law and the UN Charter as wars in Ukraine and the Middle East test global stability and rules-based governance.
Is integrating Ukraine’s arms industry about saving Ukraine, or is it Europe’s strategy to fix its own defense shortfalls?
With Russia outproducing Europe in artillery, can the EU's massive defense spending actually deliver security without radical industrial reform?
Can Europe’s leaders convince citizens to fund a massive defense buildup amid high debt and looming cuts to public services?
The Road to 2035: Europe's €150 Billion Defense Overhaul and the Quest for Strategic Autonomy
Overview
In response to Russia's war in Ukraine and the U.S. troop withdrawal from Germany, NATO members pledged in June 2025 to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, splitting funds between core military capabilities and resilience. Germany quickly launched a major military overhaul, driving economic growth but also increasing deficits. Despite higher budgets, Europe remains dependent on U.S. military technology, prompting the €150 billion SAFE program to boost European defense industries, though the UK was excluded. Efforts to strengthen rapid response forces and reshore critical industries aim to reduce reliance on external powers. However, divergent defense spending, public threat perceptions, and U.S. opposition to protectionism challenge Europe's path to strategic autonomy by 2035.