EU leaders may cheat Trump by walking back their pledge to ramp up defense spending - Shoigu

In an interview with the newspaper Kommersant, Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu said that the authorities of European countries may deceive US President Donald Trump and fail to fulfill their obligations to increase defense spending.

“It is no coincidence that the initial figures of the new defense budget will be summed up by 2029, when Donald Trump’s presidential term is already over. It cannot be ruled out that the Europeans, who have made deception part and parcel of their foreign policy strategy, are going to cheat the present occupant of the White House by refusing to fulfill their obligations,” Shoigu noted.

He added that European countries “may resort to tricks” and present  the costs of building roads, bridges, transport hubs and other civilian infrastructure as “related” expenses.

Earlier, Le Figaro reported that a special EU summit had underscored the member states’ determination to fast track their spending on arms.

The leaders of 27 European countries have given the go-ahead to Brussels’ plan to strengthen European defense. Earlier this week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed the plan, dubbed “rearming Europe.”

It aims to provide around 800 billion euros, including 150 billion in loans, to bolster the EU’s defense capabilities.

According to a BFMTV report, the money will be used for joint investments by at least two member states in areas where the needs are most pressing, such as air defense, missiles, drones and anti-drone systems, and artillery systems.

Ursula von der Leyen said that these weapons will enable the member states to “significantly increase their assistance to Ukraine.”

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