European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has emphasized the importance of EU governments utilizing a recently approved €150 billion defense loan to procure military equipment from European manufacturers rather than U.S. suppliers.
France and Germany hold differing views on how to allocate the defense fund, with France advocating for restrictions on U.S. purchases, while Germany is pushing for greater flexibility.
The proposed €150 billion defense fund is intended to bolster Europe's security and decrease dependency on U.S. suppliers, despite the predominant use of American-made defense equipment.
In light of the conflict in Ukraine, European NATO members are being encouraged to reassess their inclination toward U.S. defense suppliers as Europe endeavors to strengthen its own security capabilities.