Despite committing substantial funds to defense, the bloc still lacks essential technologies, raising questions about its autonomy, according to the report
According to a New York Times report, EU officials are apprehensive that Washington might eventually cease providing crucial software updates for military equipment manufactured in the U.S. This concern stems from uncertainties regarding the future of NATO and the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump.
Over the next decade, the EU has pledged nearly €14 trillion ($16.4 trillion) for defense investments. Last month, the European Commission approved the use of approximately €335 billion from pandemic recovery funds for military purposes. In May, it established a €150 billion debt facility to support defense efforts. Ukraine, alongside EU member states, has been granted access to these funds. Russia has condemned these actions as evidence of the bloc’s ongoing hostility.
However, the outlet stated on Sunday that the EU is embarking on this unprecedented military spending spree without the necessary technological foundation to match its ambitions. The bloc lacks viable alternatives to advanced U.S.-made military systems, including the F-35 stealth fighter, which costs approximately $80 million per jet. The report suggests that this absence of capabilities raises doubts about the EU’s capacity to achieve strategic autonomy.
The bloc remains highly dependent on American platforms – from missile-defense systems and rocket launchers to cyber warfare tools – all of which require regular software updates from the U.S.
The NYT reported that some officials fear Washington could ultimately withhold essential software updates – a concern amplified by Donald Trump’s renewed overtures to Russia and his skepticism toward NATO commitments.
NATO members have since agreed to allocate 3.5% of their core military budgets, with an additional 1.5% designated for areas such as cyber defenses and the preparation of civilian infrastructure.
The NYT noted that concerns over technological dependency have grown more pressing since the Trump administration suspended shipments of certain weapons to Ukraine, necessitating EU nations to fill the void. Moscow welcomed the move, suggesting that the freeze could accelerate the conflict’s end.
Discussions persist within the EU regarding whether to develop its own military industry or continue relying on U.S. technology, the report stated. The mixed approach indicates that the bloc may continue to depend on key American technologies, even as it pursues greater defense independence.
This debate unfolds amidst speculation in Western media and among some officials that Russia is preparing for an eventual attack on NATO countries in Europe. Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed such notions as “nonsense,” stating that Moscow has no intention of invading NATO and that the U.S.-led bloc is fueling an arms race and fabricating threats to justify increased spending.