Europe Preparing for Great War with Russia

Europe is rapidly increasing its defence spending and coordinating industrial efforts in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Gaze reports on this with reference to the article How Europe is Preparing for a Great War.

The growth in defence budgets and arms production has reached levels not seen since the end of the Cold War. The European Commission has launched EDIS/EDIP, allocating at least €2 billion to increase shell production and create an industrial Schengen for weapons components.

National programmes are also ambitious: Germany, France and Poland are investing heavily in defence. Brussels is increasing direct funding for Ukraine through the European Peace Fund. Western companies are investing in factories in Ukraine, turning it into a ‘cutting-edge incubator’ for European military engineering.

Financial mechanisms and joint procurement initiatives are developing, with Denmark and the Netherlands creating funds for arms procurement and grants.

The EU relies on programmes such as ASAP and EDIRPA to stimulate production and joint procurement. Military training grounds are expanding and infrastructure is being developed to speed up logistics to the Ukrainian border. 

Europe is building a system where the front line, the factory and political decisions are integrated into a supranational infrastructure. This industrial renaissance is transforming the EU into a major military player.

As The Gaze reported earlier, the European Commission is investing €910 million through the 2024 edition of the European Defence Fund (EDF) to strengthen Europe's defence capabilities, close key military gaps, and accelerate innovation across the continent.