The first European defense commissioner Kubilius: the EU must strengthen its defense immediately

Former Prime Minister of Lithuania Andrius Kubilius, who will soon take over the position of the first-ever European Union Defense Commissioner, said that over the next few years it is necessary to invest more than 500 billion euros in the development of Europe’s defense industry.

The European Union should immediately strengthen its defenses, as Russia may be ready for a confrontation in six to eight years, Kubilius said in an interview with Reuters on September 18.

“Defense ministers and NATO generals agree that Vladimir Putin may be ready for a confrontation with NATO and the EU in six to eight years. If these estimates are to be taken seriously, this is the time to prepare. There is not much time. This means that we have to make quick and ambitious decisions,” said the 67-year-old politician.

According to Kubilyus, his first priority in his new position will be to study the issue of the resources needed by the European Union to prepare for a military challenge. The future EU defense commissioner is devoting the first 100 days of his mandate to this study, the Voice of America notes.

Kubilius, as Reuters writes, may suffer from the reserved attitude of several governments towards the European Union, which are not ready to entrust Brussels with the right to decide how they should organize their defense industry.