EU Leaders Unite on Defense Spending Amid Hungarian Dissent on Ukraine Aid

In a significant shift towards self-reliance in defense, the European Union convened a crisis summit in Brussels, where leaders from 27 member states agreed to substantially increase their military expenditures. This initiative comes in response to changing U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, with EU Council President António Costa emphasizing the commitment to building a robust and sovereign European defense.

However, the summit revealed a divide among the members regarding support for Ukraine, as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán declined to endorse a collective statement reaffirming the EU's commitment to aiding the war-torn nation. Despite Hungary's position, the remaining 26 nations reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity, including their readiness to continue providing military assistance.

The summit's declaration also highlighted the need for credible security guarantees and insisted that any peace negotiations should involve Ukrainian and European representatives. This unified stance aims to address skepticism about Europe's reliance on U.S. protection.

As part of the defense initiative, the EU plans to mobilize up to EUR150 billion in loans for military investments, with an overarching goal of raising nearly EUR800 billion through the 'ReArm Europe' plan. This strategy includes modifications to the European Investment Bank's lending criteria to facilitate greater investments in defense projects.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen remarked on the historical significance of the summit's outcomes, pledging a faster, more efficient collaborative investment approach. Detailed proposals on the legal implementation of these decisions are expected to be presented at the next summit in two weeks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended the summit, expressing gratitude for the EU's support, which he described as a vital signal of solidarity for the Ukrainian people amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron also stirred discussions by advocating for a European nuclear umbrella based on French nuclear capabilities. He proposed initiating strategic dialogues with interested member states to explore potential collaboration in this area.

Meanwhile, President Trump continued to cast doubt on U.S. commitments within NATO, suggesting that countries not investing sufficiently in their defense may not receive American support in times of conflict. This stance raises concerns about the implications for collective defense under NATO's Article 5.

Outgoing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz reaffirmed Germany's commitment to NATO's existing deterrent framework, based on U.S. nuclear capabilities, indicating that no immediate changes to this arrangement are planned.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk predicted a new arms race in Europe, asserting that Russia would ultimately lose, reminiscent of the Soviet Union's historical decline.