18.02.2026 06:10
The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, announced that together with member states, a budget of 800 billion euros will be allocated for defense spending by the year 2028.
The President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, addressed the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA) Joint Committee Meetings held in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. Emphasizing that strengthening European defense will also strengthen NATO, Costa stated, "The EU and member states are allocating up to 800 billion euros for defense spending by 2028."
In a post on his social media account, Costa referred to his contacts during the meeting and highlighted the strategic importance of increasing Europe's defense capacity. He underscored that a strong European defense also means a strong NATO.
President of the European Council Antonio Costa NOTABLE EMPHASIS ON GREENLAND Referring to the efforts to establish peace across the continent, Costa made the following remarks on the subject: "Whether in Ukraine or Greenland, we are working to achieve lasting peace based on international law, respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the principles of the United Nations Charter."
ENORMOUS RISE IN DEFENSE BUDGET In a period of increasing global threats, the rise in the EU's defense spending is also supported by data. EU countries spent 343.2 billion euros (approximately 16.9 trillion TL) on defense in 2024.
This figure is expected to reach 381 billion euros (18.7 trillion TL) in 2025. It is anticipated that defense investments, which have gained significant momentum in the last five years, will continue to increase in line with the target of 800 billion euros set for 2028.