Europe Boosts Defense Amid Geopolitical Tensions

Europe is grappling with its defense infrastructure amid rising geopolitical tensions and the influence of US policies, notably those of Donald Trump. France, Italy, and the UK have agreed to buy more air and missile defense interceptors, highlighting the region's need to scale up defense production rapidly. As Trump’s isolationist policies and tariffs challenge Europe, there is a push towards greater military autonomy and economic alliances, such as EFTA's pursuit of a trade agreement with Mercosur. The EU is considering substantial defense investments, including a €150 billion defense investment lending scheme from which the UK is currently excluded due to Brexit, although negotiations for a UK-EU defense pact are ongoing. Meanwhile, Europe is adapting its alliances and defense strategies, partly due to the US's shifting stance, with meetings involving NATO and EU countries highlighting strategic divergence issues within the bloc.