this post was submitted on 08 Mar 2025
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Archive: https://archive.is/2025.03.08-050706/https://www.ft.com/content/76937db3-0b3b-44d4-9005-9709512acd53

A proposed €150bn injection into the EU’s defence industry has become a new flashpoint in a long-standing battle between France and Germany over the continent’s rearmament drive and whether it should include countries outside the bloc.

Spooked by US President Donald Trump’s threats to end generations of American protection, Europe has pledged to increase defence spending dramatically and scale up their domestic capabilities that have withered since the cold war.

Last week the European Commission proposed to raise €150bn that would be lent to capitals to boost their military production. While the broad idea has received unanimous political backing, the details are still being fleshed out, with heavy lobbying over whether the cash could be spent on arms made outside the bloc.

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[–] [email protected] 80 points 1 month ago (1 children)

TLDR: They didn't clash, but merely shared their insights, which were actually quite similar.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

The insight we needed. Thank you.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 month ago (3 children)

From now on, I'm only buying Saab Gripen fighter jets for my family at Christmas.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 month ago (2 children)

All the cool kids fly Eurofighter tho

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago

A Gripen is very cool, tho. :)

I see enough space for both: those who want a twin engine solution can take that route, those who want a smaller single engine jet take the Gripen

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Oh no, the community has been overtaken by warring richkids. :/

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

I am sure Pepsi is going to sell some for cheap soon.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 month ago

I'll race you on my Rafale..

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

American engine so it's not a viable option for obvious reasons unfortunatly. Eurofighter or rafale is more european I guess or are they bad too?

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Including foreign producers keeps the local ones honest, otherwise they will overcharge even worse than usual.

It would be probably best to just use some of the money to nationalize a few local producers instead if you really want to push for local production only. But obviously you will not read about that option in the Financial Times.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Maybe publicly include them, but then only buy "local" - that way the offers stay fair and you get the best of both deals!

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Well, you need to be a bit smarter about it, otherwise the bidders will know about your plan to buy only local and ripp you off anyways. It's very hard as a state to keep such ideas secret.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago

This question changes a lot depending on if the non-EU partner in question is the US or a country like South Korea