European defense spending has shifted from a low priority to a critical issue amid rising concerns of Russian aggression and doubt over US commitments to NATO. The EU's recent commitment of 150 billion euros to weapons funding highlights this change. A report from SIPRI showed that Europe increasingly relies on US arms, with two-thirds of NATO members' arms imports coming from the US in recent years. Experts point out a growing urgency in European nations to reconsider their defense strategies, given their historical dependency on US military support.
Tim Lawrenson, an associate fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, states that since NATO's founding, the US has been the main military power and security guarantor for Europe.
Guntram Wolff, a defense specialist at the Brussels-based think tank Bruegel, emphasizes the interdependence between US and European defense companies, noting that NATO products often comprise components from multiple allies.
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