In the run-up to the European Council meeting on defence, a report from the EU Parliament has highlighted the costs resulting from the lack of European integration in this area.
The report ‘Cost of non-Europe’, released on 5 December, stated that operating at a national rather than European level is leading to costs of between €130 billion at the higher end to at least €26 billion per year, depending on how the costs are tallied.
Higher costs are a result of a lack of integration of EU member states’ military structures.
‘The go-it-alone approach is a source of weakness, and
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The initial document focused more on creating the right partnerships and inspiring investment in defence than on any details of how future UK Armed Forces would be armed.
The first stage of developing a new UK Defence Industrial Strategy has highlighted failings in current structures with solutions expected to be proposed in next year’s full strategy.
Romania joined NATO more than two decades ago and the country is vital to the alliance’s geographic reach and its ability to supply Ukraine with weapons.
Although Trump’s geopolitics policy for Europe remains unclear, defence analysts from the US and Europe predict how his incoming administration would attempt to handle critical issues on the continent.
The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October was the first by a Labour government in 14 years which has also launched a review into defence procurement programmes.
The Australian government has placed a focus on Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) which has included the purchase of additional long-range rocket systems and investments in local production of missiles.
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