Continuing to oppose peace, the EU is pursuing its rearmament against Russia at full pace. As EU Commissioner for Defense Andris Kubilius announced on Jan. 11, a 100,000-strong permanent supranational rapid mobility and intervention force will be created to fill a gap potentially left by the U.S., should it pull out its 80,000 soldiers currently still stationed there. In a separate statement, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the intent to rearm the EU with planned expenses of €800 billion to become powerful enough to challenge Russia. The militarization of the EU is on top of the agenda, therefore.
To be added to these supranational plans for a build-up of troops are respective national efforts of EU member states to increase troop strength beyond the present level, which is 1.3 million soldiers for all of the EU.
The militarization also includes the European Space Agency, which in November received a budget increase of almost a third, from €17 billion to €23 billion for the next three years, for surveillance satellite and other capacities. Germany will contribute €5 billion, and France and Italy €3 billion each.
