Borrell calls Russian aggression against Ukraine an existential threat to the EU and for investment in defense technologies.

EU High Representative Josep Borrell noted that Russia’s aggressive war is seen as an existential threat to the EU. Therefore, the determination of joint borrowing to finance Ukrainian military support should be carried out quickly while simultaneously strengthening Europe’s competitiveness in critical sectors of the defense industry.

Borrell states that the EU spends €14.4B annually on research and development in the military sphere, while the US allots €130B. European investments are fragmented and distributed among countries, with only 18% of European defense equipment ordered jointly. To remedy this, the EU has begun to combine its defensive production efforts. The European Defense Fund provides €8B over seven years for defense research.

Borrell added that the war in Ukraine demonstrates that using unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, space capabilities, and other innovative technologies will be decisive in future hostilities. Therefore, the EU is actively working to develop its own technological base so as not to depend on third countries.