this post was submitted on 18 Feb 2025
792 points (98.9% liked)

World News

41102 readers
4428 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News [email protected]

Politics [email protected]

World Politics [email protected]


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Summary

European officials are preparing a multibillion-dollar defense package to bolster regional security and support Ukraine, announced by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the Munich Security Conference.

The package, potentially valued up to 700 billion euros, will fund military training, arms deliveries, and security guarantees amid concerns over Russian aggression and diminishing U.S. contributions to NATO.

The move follows calls for Europe to boost its own defense spending while U.S.-Russian talks, which exclude Ukraine and Europe, on ending the Ukraine conflict continue.

(page 2) 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 55 points 2 days ago (6 children)

Don't forget to save some for the war against America.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

The war against America will be fought by poor American SOB's like myself before it reaches our allies.

We're all hoping it doesn't come to that, but the divisive nature of our current political climate is unprecedented... We're all a day away from never speaking to certain family members again. It's just fucking nuts what's going on.

People like to compare us to Nazi Germany, but it's nothing like that. Well, except Elon Musk. He's larping as a Nazi pretty openly right now, compete with Seig Heils. That's part of their plan to divide and conquer. Only I really think it'll follow our old motto, and we will simply all fall.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 16 points 2 days ago

It's the same investment fund. I assume that's the main reason for it's existence. Donald Trump and his MAGA baffoons are driving America in the ground faster than a plane during his administration. They need to be ready and they will fight unlike many cowards here.

Numbers are growing in the U.S. but the time needed is also fighting the time that his administration devours media sources and telecommunication systems. Surveillance today is near insurmountable, but not yet

load more comments (4 replies)
[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 days ago (9 children)

Finally Ukraine is getting the help they need! Kick out Russia once and for all!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Most of that money will likely go into expanding the defense industrial base and infrastructure. That includes not just buildings but training and hiring engineers and technicians.

Lots of essential things in NATO are run by USA. Airlift capability is a big example. Luckily Ukraine has some serious capability there and cooperation has been done for a long time already. Building an independent intelligence infrastructure, satellites, and so on is a major task as well. Command organization is built around the US and will need to be built as well. Training of Air Force pilots also happens in the US for most European militaries. That means building air bases, infrastructure, hiring and training additional staff, etc. Nuclear weapons and delivery systems are another big concern.

Europe has capabilities in all of this already, but it’s dwarfed by the US.

Europe will likely have to spend double the rumored 700 billion to achieve something credible.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Europe will likely have to spend double the rumored 700 billion to achieve something credible.

So, what you're saying is that this spending package for defense is NonCredible?

load more comments (8 replies)
[–] [email protected] 23 points 2 days ago (20 children)

I think we should give a nuke to Ukraine. One would be enough to stop all this BS.

load more comments (20 replies)
[–] [email protected] 41 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

It's a bit premature to announce this, but yes VonderLeyen has announced the preparation of a defense package of approx. 700 B via this legal fiscal venue. Together with the EU Competitiveness Compass plan at around a minimum of 750 B, they will likely be aimed to reinforce each other. In addition, other parallel plans are being prepared, pending current developments.

added: Context: EU defense is now at 326 B in 2024 (consilium EU). Though Europe also includes UK and other countries ofcourse.

This newly announced extra package is like a minimum extra budget.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 day ago

About time they pull their weight

[–] [email protected] 27 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (2 children)

Don't sigh before any papers are signed, but...

...while they may get stuck for a while passing a measure of this volume (or someone will need to lure Orban out of the room while others push buttons) - the volume is doable.

For comparison, the NextGenerationEU budget allocation (spent in a dozen ways) to help countries recover from COVID damage) was worth 2 trillion euros, and it was possible to pass.

The actual part? Probably multipronged:

  • supercharging EU and Ukrainian arms industries, especially ones that can be expanded fast (drones)
  • reducing formalities that need to be followed
  • buying the weapons some members have in reserve for a Russian attack (because some do)
  • buying the weapons Turkey and Greece have in reserve for each other
  • subsequently, raking the global market (including the US) for weapons that come loose for money
  • allowing Ukraine to pay really attractive salaries to its own soldiers and foreign soldiers

P.S. And jokingly - buying all the optical fiber available in South-East Asia.

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments
view more: ‹ prev next ›