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SAFE (Strategic Armament Financing Envelope)
€150 billion EU-level loan facility
Enables joint weapons procurement at lower cost and faster speed
Together, these mechanisms encourage countries to pool resources, negotiate better contracts, and ensure new systems can work together seamlessly.
Why the United States Is Pushing Europe Harder Than Ever
Pressure from Washington has intensified.
The U.S. national security strategy published on December 4 described Europe as a weakened partner and reaffirmed an “America First” posture. The document echoed long-standing complaints from former President Donald Trump about European defence spending.
Washington expects Europe to assume most of NATO’s conventional defence responsibilities by 2027—a timeline many European officials privately call unrealistic.
At the 2025 NATO summit in The Hague, allies agreed to aim for 5% of GDP in defence spending by 2035. Most European countries remain well below that threshold.
The strategy also criticised Europe’s migration policies, demographic trends, and regulatory approach, while signalling Washington’s interest in eventually stabilising relations with Russia.
