12.03.2025 01:21
The warning from U.S. President Donald Trump that he would not provide protection unless Europe increases its defense spending has put the continent on alert. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk discussed strengthening Europe's defense and reducing dependence on the U.S. with Turkey.
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The call by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk to strengthen Europe's defense capabilities and reduce its dependence on the United States raises the question of whether Europe has the power to defend itself, while the visit he will make tomorrow may pave the way for the development of cooperation with Turkey to close Europe's defense gap.
In a statement before attending the Ukraine summit hosted by London, the capital of England, on March 3, Tusk expressed that "it is a paradox for 500 million Europeans to depend on 300 million Americans to protect themselves from 140 million Russians."
"EUROPE LACKS THE BELIEF THAT IT IS A GLOBAL POWER TODAY"
Tusk, who called for strengthening Europe's defense capabilities and reducing dependence on the U.S., stated, "If there is something missing in Europe today, it is not economic or demographic power. Europe today lacks the belief that it is a global power." Tusk pointed out that the combined force of 2.6 million soldiers in Europe, including Ukraine, is greater than the armies of the U.S., China, and Russia, urging European countries to take more responsibility for their own security. These statements, following the changing attitude of the U.S. towards Europe under the Trump administration, have reignited the issue of "self-sufficiency and autonomy" that has occupied the European agenda for some time.
The demand for NATO allies to allocate 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) to defense spending is not being met by many European countries. According to data from the European Defence Agency (EDA), EU countries spent a collective 1.9% of their GDP on defense in 2024. According to NATO's 2024 forecasts, the ratio of defense spending to GDP for European countries is around 2.2%, but this figure is considered lower for the EU because it includes the UK and Turkey, which are not EU members. Among the countries that spend the most are Greece, Poland, Estonia, and Latvia, while countries like Ireland, Luxembourg, and Malta justify their spending of less than 1% by stating that there are no urgent security threats. The "largest powers" of the EU, namely Germany (1.52%), France (2.26%), Italy (1.61%), and Spain (1.51%), do not meet expectations.
EUROPE IS REARMING ITSELF
On one hand, Trump, the president of the U.S., one of the countries with the highest defense spending in NATO, warns Europe to increase its defense spending, otherwise there will be no protection from Washington, while on the other hand, Europe, struggling with economic problems, is trying to find a way to do this. The European Commission plans to provide flexibility in financial rules and funds for member countries' defense spending with the "Rearm Europe" plan, which aims to increase defense spending of 800 billion euros to rearm the region.
In response to Trump's attitude towards Europe, the EU has entered a search for new partners in both economic and defense areas or to develop existing ones, and in this direction, it has revitalized dialogue with "like-minded countries" that are not EU members. It is anticipated that Tusk's visit tomorrow will facilitate this cooperation and that discussions will address how Turkey can play a greater role in Europe's security architecture.
"POLAND AND TURKEY'S INTERESTS ARE NOT CONTRADICTORY"
Dr. Karolina Wanda Olszowska, the founding president of the Turkey Research Institute based in Poland, stated in a written statement that Tusk's visit shows that the governments of Warsaw and Ankara are aware of the potential benefits of closer cooperation between the two countries. Olszowska noted that the interests of Poland and Turkey are not contradictory, saying, "Both countries share a strong determination regarding regional and global security. This visit seems to offer an opportunity to acknowledge the strategic potential of both partners and emphasize that their cooperation could contribute to a more secure Europe."
Olszowska indicated that the meeting shows Poland's willingness to act as a "bridge" in developing defense cooperation between the EU and Turkey, stating, "Since the outbreak of the large-scale war in Ukraine, Poland has placed great importance on security issues, actively seeking partners and closely monitoring Turkey's defense industry. Warsaw is likely in search of long-term cooperation with Turkey in the defense field."
Olszowska pointed out that discussions on Europe's strategic autonomy from the U.S. in defense have been ongoing for many years, stating, "While strategic autonomy in defense is possible for Europe, achieving this in the short term seems difficult. One of the biggest challenges is bringing together countries with different interests, security perspectives, and societal attitudes towards defense investments." Olszowska shared the view that "Strategic autonomy is a viable concept in the long term, but its implementation will require a significant commitment from all European partners."
Olszowska conveyed that whether the EU can fill the gap left by the U.S. after suspending military aid to Ukraine depends on military capabilities, financial resources, defense production, and political will, adding that it would be difficult to match the scale of support provided by the U.S., which has given the most military aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Olszowska stated, "Europe's arms production is fragmented and not suitable for large-scale war. In the short term, the EU cannot procure sufficient ammunition and heavy equipment to compensate for the loss of American aid," noting that the ammunition shortfall could be addressed by purchasing weapons from countries like Turkey and South Korea.
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