According to Michal, capitals should be more concerned about the cost of not deterring Russia’s Vladimir Putin because “the answer is measured not only in defence budgets, but also in lost lives, weakened security, disrupted economies and the price of rebuilding peace. Investing in deterrence today is far less expensive than paying for the consequences of aggression tomorrow.”
“Supporting Ukraine is already increasing Europe’s security,” he went on, adding that “a Europe where Russia achieves its goals would be far more expensive than helping Ukraine succeed today.”
EU leaders will grapple with the questions of defense spending and the bloc’s budget at no fewer than three summits later this year, including a European Council in November that is expected to last two days to negotiate points of contention.
Estonia is investing more than 5 percent of GDP into defense, and has called on fellow NATO allies to do the same as soon as possible. All of them, apart from Spain, have committed to matching that target by 2035, and European countries are eager to show they are taking more responsibility for the defense of the continent ahead of a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Ankara next week.
“Last year alone, European allies and Canada increased defence spending by 20 percent —more than $139 billion compared to the previous year,” said Michal. “We did not make these investments because we wanted to. Russia made us do it.”
The meeting between Merz and the leaders of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania comes as the EU’s frontline states prepare for the NATO summit, which starts July 7. Allies are hoping to smooth over relations with Trump after he hit out at their hesitance to become embroiled in the war with Iran, with Washington weighing plans for potential further troop reductions.
Countries will point to the additional $139 billion NATO members, excluding the U.S., spent this year on defense compared to the previous year and, one person familiar with the planning said, will announce “double-digit” billions in new procurement deals.
“The message from Ankara must be clear: Europe is ready to take greater responsibility for its own security while keeping the transatlantic Alliance strong,” said Michal. “A stronger European pillar makes NATO stronger — and that benefits every ally.”