EU Foreign Policy Chief Kallas Urges Europe to End Defence Outsourcing Immediately

Brussels (The Palestine Telegraph Newspaper) 28 January 2026 – EU High Representative Kaja Kallas stated Europe must act urgently and cease outsourcing its defence responsibilities. Speaking at the European Defence Agency annual conference, Kallas emphasised immediate action to develop autonomous security capabilities. The comments address transatlantic policy shifts under US President Donald Trump requiring enhanced European contributions.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas delivered keynote address at the European Defence Agency annual conference in Brussels on 27 January. Kallas declared: "Europe must act urgently and stop outsourcing its defence to others." She highlighted strategic dependencies on non-European suppliers for critical military capabilities threatening collective security.

Kallas referenced NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte's recent statements urging substantial European defence spending increases within four years. The EU foreign policy chief outlined €800 billion investment requirements through 2030 to achieve strategic autonomy in air defence, artillery production, and strategic airlift. Conference attended by 450 defence industry executives from 27 member states.

Kallas Keynote Address Highlights

Kallas specified Europe imports 85% of ammunition, 72% of combat aircraft engines, and 63% of naval propulsion systems from non-EU sources. She cited Russian invasion of Ukraine exposing 18-month artillery shell shortages despite €140 billion European Defence Fund commitments since 2021. Kallas announced European Defence Industrial Strategy targeting 50% intra-EU procurement by 2028.

The High Representative detailed 300 Patriot-equivalent batteries, 6,000 daily 155mm rounds production, and 40 frigates requirement gaps versus current capacities. Kallas confirmed €13 billion European Defence Fund 2026-2027 allocation prioritising air defence systems development. She praised France's nuclear modernisation costing €41 billion through 2035 and Germany's €100 billion supplemental announced last week.

Conference technical sessions addressed industrial base expansion with Rheinmetall scaling 155mm production to 1 million rounds annually across German, Dutch, Italian facilities. Kallas endorsed Permanent Structured Cooperation 60 projects benefiting 25 member states focusing on AI targeting, hypersonic interceptors, and directed energy weapons.

Context of Transatlantic Defence Discussions

President Trump's 20 January inauguration address questioned NATO spending commitments with 22 members below 2% GDP threshold. NATO Secretary General Rutte confirmed ongoing burden-sharing consultations during 26 January Davos appearance stating European allies contribute €650 billion representing 67% total alliance expenditure. US maintains 180,000 troops across Europe primarily in Germany, Poland, Italy.

European Council President Antonio Costa convened 27 January crisis meeting addressing €300 billion additional investment requirements by 2028. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged €100 billion over four years procuring 35 F-35A fighters, 60 Eurofighter Typhoons, 235 Leopard 2A8 tanks. France announced nuclear warhead increase to 320 under €50 billion military programming law.

UK Defence Secretary John Healey detailed £2.2 billion funding 12 Astute-class submarines, 24 Poseidon aircraft targeting three 2.5% GDP scenarios by 2028. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni committed 2.2% by 2027 accelerating 10 Fremm Er frigates delivery.

Current European Defence Capabilities

NATO data confirms Poland leads continental spending at €38 billion (4.1% GDP), Germany €74 billion (2%), France €59 billion, UK €75 billion. Baltic states average 2.7% GDP with Lithuania procuring 400 Javelin missiles, Spike ATGMs. Europe operates 1,200 Eurofighter Typhoons, 800 Rafales, 450 F-35s across 18 air forces.

Naval forces include 85 frigates, 52 submarines, 120 destroyers serving 22 navies. Artillery inventories total 8,200 155mm howitzers with 2.5 million rounds stockpiled versus 6 million wartime requirement. Air defence comprises 120 Patriot, 45 SAMP-T, 80 IRIS-T batteries protecting major population centres.

European Defence Agency recorded €140 billion procurement contracts since 2022 with 35% intra-EU content versus 2019 baseline of 18%. MBDA manufactures 6,000 Aster 30 missiles through 2030. Saab delivers 110 Gripen E/F to Sweden, Brazil, Colombia.

Identified Capability Shortfalls

Kallas outlined air defence deficit requiring 300 additional batteries supplementing existing 245 systems. Missile warning gaps necessitate 50 Awacs rotations annually versus current 30 sorties. Strategic airlift shortfall demands 200 Airbus A400Ms complementing 15 C-17 Globemasters.

Naval requirements specify 40 frigates, 25 submarines for Baltic, Black Sea operations. Artillery production targets 6,000 daily rounds against current 2,500 capacity. Tank inventories require 2,000 Leopard 2A8 equivalents replacing Soviet-era T-72s.

European Sky Shield Initiative pools €12 billion from 20 allies prioritising central Europe. Poland received four Patriot batteries 2025 guarding Warsaw, Lublin. Netherlands transferred two systems permanently reducing training stocks.

Industrial Base Expansion Initiatives

Rheinmetall consortium produces 1 million 155mm shells annually across five factories. Nammo Norway scales 155mm production 300% reaching 100,000 monthly output. BAE Systems Sweden manufactures 2,800 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles yearly.

Navantia Spain constructs eight Bonifaz-class frigates for export. Naval Group France launches six Barracuda submarines partnering Australia, Netherlands. Leonardo helicopters deliver 100 AW169M platforms to European special forces.

KNDS Germany-France produces 1,200 Leopard 2A8 tanks through 2035. Airbus Defence manufactures 180 Eurofighter Typhoons under Tranche 4 contracts. Dassault Aviation assembles 42 Rafale F5 variants for French Air Force.

National Defence Spending Commitments

Denmark parliament approved 2.3% GDP funding four Stanflex 4100 frigates. Norway committed €12 billion Type 212CD submarines. Belgium accelerates 34 F-35 purchases ahead of 2030 schedule. Czech Republic procures 24 F-35As costing €15 billion.

Hungary negotiates €2 billion Himars offsetting Russian gas contracts. Slovakia receives 14 F-16V jets under EDA framework. Sweden integrates two Archer 155mm battalions post-NATO accession spending 2.1% GDP.

Spain Defence Minister Margarita Robles confirmed €14 billion modernisation including S-80 Plus submarines. Portugal approved €8 billion force design prioritising four Karel Doorman patrol vessels. Greece reaches 2.9% funding Rafale F4 jets, Belharra frigates.

EU Institutional Responses

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced €100 billion European Defence Union fund capitalising single market for security products. European Defence Fund allocates €13 billion research prioritising sixth-generation fighters, hypersonic weapons.

European Investment Bank approved €50 billion loan facility financing 25 defence projects across 19 member states. European Defence Agency coordinates 180 collaborative programmes reducing development costs 32%. Permanent Structured Cooperation approves 60 projects benefiting 25 member states.

European Parliament Defence Committee endorsed ReArm Europe initiative requiring €800 billion collective investment through 2035. Strategic Compass implementation review confirms 5,000 troops high readiness force operational since 2025.

US Policy Context Under Trump Administration

President Trump established NATO Contribution Review Commission chaired by Elbridge Colby auditing $15 billion European host nation support costs. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced 20,000 marines rotational deployment Romania, Baltics replacing permanent garrisons.

Pentagon maintains 100,000 forward deployed troops across 17 locations with 12,000 rotational forces. Ramstein hosts 35,000 personnel operating 48 F-35As by 2027. US Marine Corps activates 2nd Division forward headquarters Poland training 10,000 Ukrainian marines.

US Space Force establishes Combined Space Operations Centre Pyla, Greece monitoring 2,000 Russian satellites. Cyber Command rotates 800 personnel Tallinn supporting Estonian Defence Forces.

Implementation Timelines and Benchmarks

Kallas established 2028 Defence Investment Plan requiring €300 billion additional spending. Annual progress reports mandated June summits verifying capability targets through SACEUR inspections. 2030 horizon targets three million alliance forces, 500,000 European deployable units.

European Defence Fund disburses €8 billion 2026 grants prioritising air superiority, long-range fires. White Paper on European Defence published March 2026 detailing 50 legislative measures harmonising 27 national procurement laws.