Kubilius proposes unconventional EU defense approach: calls for “Big Bang” strategy

This opinion was expressed in an interview with Ukrinform by European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius.

"When the intelligence services of Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands, and then their leaders are saying that Putin can be ready to test Article 5 within the next three to four years, it means that we need to be ready before that moment comes,“ Kubilius said, adding that this requires applying the ”Big Bang" principle.

To achieve the defense readiness targets by 2030, the European Commissioner believes that “a step-by-step approach, including improving our industrial capabilities and so on, is not what we need.”

"Really, we need to take what I call a Big Bang approach. It’s about big money, quick decisions, quick development," Kubilius emphasized.

In this context, he advises the EU to learn from Ukraine, which has increased its arms production 35-fold since 2022 in terms of the total value of products manufactured per year.

“In Europe, we don’t need a 35-fold increase, but at least we need to see and to learn how to build those capacities, what we need to deregulate, how we can make quicker decisions,” Kubilius believes.

As reported by Ukrinform, European Commissioner for Defense and Space Andrius Kubilius believes that the time required to obtain permission to build a defense enterprise in some EU countries is unacceptably long, given the Russian threat. In this regard, the European Commission proposes to reduce this period to two months.

Ukrinform photos can be purchased here.