The European Union countries must jointly buy weapons to replenish stocks after supplies to Ukraine, while the United States is not always able to protect Europe from threats. This was stated by the head of the European Defense Agency, Jiri Shedivi, writes “European Truth,” citing Reuters.

European defense spending exceeded 200 billion euros for the first time in 2021, up 6 percent from the previous year, the highest since the region began increasing military spending in 2015. “European Union states should jointly purchase weapons to replenish their stockpiles after supplying Ukraine,” the European defense agency said, warning that the U.S. would not always be able to protect Europe from threats.

According to Jiri Sedivi, executive director of the European Defense Agency (an EU body that helps EU governments develop their military capabilities), the agency is negotiating with arms companies to increase their production and with all EU countries to join forces to buy weapons, equipment and ammunition.
“What’s important is that we, the European Union, can become a reliable provider of security systems to protect citizens,” he told Reuters, urging countries to heed U.S. calls to invest in defense.

“The United States will inevitably become involved in the problems of the Indo-Pacific region and will not be able to provide us with some of the critical enablers, such as strategic airlift, reconnaissance aircraft, high-precision missiles and air defense assets.” He also pointed to the threat of terrorism from failed states in the Middle East or North Africa. European countries show a fragmented approach to defense: Countries mostly equip their armed forces on their own, creating a “patchwork quilt” of incompatible weapons and equipment. The war in Ukraine has become the biggest problem for the region in a generation, exposing deep divisions over how to deal with Moscow.