Europe Prepares for a New Era of Defense in Response to Trump's Embrace of Russia - WP.

European Leaders Concerned About Trump's Embrace of Russia

Leaders of European countries are expressing concern over American President Donald Trump's rapprochement with Russia, as well as the halt of military aid to Ukraine by the U.S. This has led them to begin strengthening Europe's defense capabilities.

At a meeting in Brussels, plans to significantly increase defense spending and reduce reliance on the U.S. for security issues were discussed, according to The Washington Post.

'The future of Europe should not be determined in Moscow or Washington,' French President Emmanuel Macron said. He called for the creation of European forces to ensure the security of the continent and proposed discussing the role of nuclear deterrence in this strategy.

Under the leadership of future Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Germany plans to ease budget constraints for defense investments, aiming to increase military spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2027. This indicates Europe's growing readiness to take responsibility for its own security.

The European Commission proposed a plan to mobilize up to 800 billion euros for the rearmament of Europe over the next four years, including 150 billion euros in loans for EU member states to procure military equipment. This move aims to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities in light of global instability and tensions in relations with the U.S.