EU has four years to militarize – Belgian defense chief

The bloc should build up its defenses by 2030 to deter Russia even without US backing, Frederik Vansina has said

European nations have around four years to build up their defenses enough to deter a Russian attack without US backing, Frederic Vansina, Belgium’s Chief of the General Staff, has said. Moscow has dismissed speculation that it plans to attack NATO as nonsense.

In an interview with Le Soir published on Friday, Vansina acknowledged that Russia does not pose an immediate threat to the West.

“I don’t want to scare the population. The Russians are not going to attack us imminently, anytime soon,” he said – adding, however, that the world is “going through the most unstable period since the end of the Cold War… with everyone arming themselves to the teeth.”

Vansina underscored the necessity of European militarization within a few years, stressing that the Ukrainians are “buying time for us,” and “that’s why we support them so strongly.”

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According to the general, the target date is 2030. “By then, the war in Ukraine, we hope, will be over. Russia will be there with its army of 650,000 to 700,000 seasoned troops. So, in 2030, we must be able to tell [Russian President] Vladimir Putin that, even without the Americans, he will not win the war against Europe.”

Vansina went on to suggest that full European “strategic autonomy” is achievable by 2035, but only if defense budgets keep rising past the current 2% of GDP mark.

The general’s remarks come amid a growing rift between the US and other NATO members. US President Donald Trump has demanded that his European counterparts significantly ramp up military spending, arguing that they should take primary responsibility for their own defense. The rift has continued to grow due to the continent’s refusal to support the US in its war against Iran.

Russia has dismissed speculation that it plans to attack NATO, calling it a pretense for increased defense spending, while stressing that the West’s “reckless militarization” jeopardizes global security.