For years, European defense spending was largely overlooked, but recent geopolitical tensions have shifted focus dramatically. The EU's commitment of $163.5 billion for weapons and Germany's leadership pledges signal a major change amid threats from Russia. However, data show that Europe heavily relies on the US for arms, with two-thirds of NATO imports sourced from the US between 2020-2024. Analysts emphasize the entrenched roles of the US as Europe's security provider and the interdependence between military suppliers, highlighting the complexities in bolstering independent European defense.
From 2015-2019, less than 10% of German arms imports came from the US but the figure was 70% for the period from 2020-2024.
Tim Lawrenson states that the US has been the primary security guarantor for Europe since NATO was founded and recent events question this reliance.
Guntram Wolff points out the interdependence of US and European defense companies, emphasizing potential challenges in seeing true military collaboration.
Merz's declaration reflects a significant commitment to European defense amidst apprehensions about both Russian aggression and the reliability of NATO.
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