Weber Slams Spain at NATO Summit, Setting Stage for EU Defense Debate
NATO's decisions provide a justification for the EU summit, according to the head of the European Union's law enforcement agency, Weber. - EU lawmakers urged the Commission to swiftly carry out the European Union's nuclear program.
Manfred Weber, President of the European People's Party (EPP), isn't holding back. He's taking Spain to task for their stance at the NATO summit in The Hague. The issue? Spain's attempt to sidestep the new NATO spending target calling for 5% of GDP allocation to defense. Weber sees it as part of a larger problem with European defense, particularly singling out Spain's left-leaning Socialist government under Pedro Sánchez for skimping on defense spending commitments.
Weber's tough talk reflects his broader push for a stronger EU defense force within the NATO alliance. He's advocating for a robust, joint European defense structure, including a European command chain, common projects like missile defense, satellite programs, cyber brigades, and drone armies. He's warning against ceding too much control to the US under the Trump administration, insisting on Europe's self-confidence and independence insecurity matters.
The stakes for the upcoming EU summit in Brussels are high. Weber's criticism is putting the heat on EU countries, including Spain, to pony up on defense spending and commit to building a European security architecture. This structure would be lasting and based on joint European defense programs funded through the EU budget, promoting greater integration and capability. The summit promises to be a hotbed of debates on defense spending commitments and the future shape of European defense cooperation, with Weber's call for realism and pragmatic cooperation taking center stage.
- Manfred Weber
- President
- EU
- NATO summit
- CSU
- European People's Party
- Defense spending
- EU summit
- Spain
- Europe
- US President
- Donald Trump
- ZDF
- The Hague
[1] European defense challenges and the rise of "strategic autonomy": Implications for the US-EU alliance in the Trump era
[5] The European defence defence agenda in the 21st century: prospects, challenges and opportunities
- Manfred Weber, President of the European People's Party (EPP), has criticized Spain for their stance at the NATO summit in The Hague, demanding more defense spending and a commitment to building a European security architecture.
- Weber is advocating for a robust, joint European defense structure, and warns against ceding too much control to the US under the Trump administration, emphasizing the need for Europe's self-confidence and independence in security matters, as discussed in the paper "European defense challenges and the rise of 'strategic autonomy': Implications for the US-EU alliance in the Trump era."
