Dear all,

I want to start by celebrating a significant milestone: I am the first European Commissioner for Defence and Space to visit Washington, DC, as the EU has never had such a role before.

This appointment by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signifies a shift in Europes approach to defence.

We face serious threats, with Russia increasing its military capabilities at an alarming rate. Reports indicate that Russia is preparing to challenge NATO within the next few years.

General Alexus Grynkewich of U.S. European Command warns that we must prepare for potential conflicts involving both Russia and China.

Europe is stepping up to take responsibility for its own defence. We recognize the need for the U.S. to focus on the Indo-Pacific, and in return, we must enhance our own defence capabilities.

We are ramping up our defence efforts, not just because of American pressure, but due to the clear threat posed by Russia.

Our ambitious plans include the White Paper on the Future of European Defence and the Rearm EU program, which allows member states to invest 800 billion euros in defence over the next four years.

We are also increasing our multi-annual budget for defence and space to 131 billion euros, five times our current spending.

Additionally, NATO members are committing 3.5% of their GDP to defence, aiming for a total of 5% by 2035.

We are streamlining the process for expanding defence industrial facilities, reducing the approval time from four years to just two months.

Our focus now is on delivering contracts for key NATO capability targets, especially in strategic areas like air defence.

This commitment is backed by substantial financial resources from EU member states, with a projected average defence spending of 3% of GDP between 2028 and 2035.

Member states will decide where to allocate their defence budgets, which could include significant purchases from the U.S.

Concerns about losing American contracts are unfounded, as European nations continue to procure a significant portion of their defence needs from U.S. suppliers.

The real challenge lies in meeting the demand for defence supplies and ensuring timely production.

European companies are already marketing their products as ITAR free to ease concerns over American restrictions.

My goal is to foster constructive dialogue between Europe and the U.S. We need to work together to strengthen European defence while acknowledging the importance of American support.

Ultimately, we must establish a clear plan for replacing American security capabilities, ensuring that both sides understand the timeline and costs involved.

Before I conclude, I emphasize the importance of supporting Ukraine. Currently, the EU and U.S. spend less than 0.1% of their GDP on military support for Ukraine.

We must leverage our financial mechanisms to support Ukraines defence needs, as it plays a vital role in European security.

Last week, we launched the Brave Tech EU initiative with the Ukrainian government to develop joint defence projects.

Our ability to support Ukraine will also impact Chinas actions regarding Taiwan.

As General Grynkewich noted, we must view these threats as interconnected challenges.

In conclusion, to deter aggression and prevent war, Europe and America must stand united as real partners.