In a significant move to bolster its defense capabilities, the European Union (EU) announced a comprehensive military mobility package on Wednesday. The initiative, spearheaded by the European Commission, aims to enhance the rapid deployment of troops and equipment across the 27-nation bloc. With mounting concerns over Russia’s potential aggression, the package allocates €17.65 billion ($20.4 billion) to upgrade 500 critical infrastructure points, including bridges, ports, and tunnels, which currently hinder the movement of heavy military vehicles. Additionally, armed forces will be granted priority access to airports, roads, and railways during emergencies, while regulations on transporting hazardous materials will be relaxed for military and defense contractors. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas emphasized the importance of increased defense spending, stating, ‘Weakness invites them to make their move. If we are strong, Russia will not attack.’ The announcement comes amid reports of Russian drone incursions and intelligence warnings of a potential attack on the EU within the next three to four years. The EU’s Defense Industry Transformation Roadmap, also unveiled, seeks to streamline regulations and boost domestic production of military equipment, with a projected defense spending of €3.4 trillion ($4 trillion) over the next decade. The initiative underscores the bloc’s shift towards greater self-reliance in defense, particularly as the U.S. signals a focus on its own security priorities.
With an eye on Russia, EU wants to make it easier to deploy tanks and troops at short notice
