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Thursday, March 20, 2025

Polaris of Enlightenment

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https://nordictimes.com/europe/eu-leaders-push-for-e800-billion-military-buildup-an-era-of-rearmament/

Europe

EU leaders push for €800 billion military buildup: “An era of rearmament”

The new cold war

Published 4 March 2025
– By Editorial Staff
“Europe should shoulder more of the responsibility for its own security”, says the President of the European Commission.
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The European Commission has unveiled a plan to invest up to €800 billion in strengthening Europe’s military capabilities.

– We are in an era of rearmament, says Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The plan, which goes under the working title “ReArm Europe”, includes lifting the EU’s otherwise very strict budgetary rules, allowing member states to increase their defense spending more than before without risking fines or austerity measures for investments or loans related to military defense.

If all EU countries agree to increase their military spending by 1.5% of GDP, this would represent an investment of €650 billion. Furthermore, the Commission also proposes the creation of a new EU fund where member states would be able to borrow a total of €150 billion for defense investments.

– Europe is ready to massively boost its defense spending. Both, to respond to the short-term urgency to act and to support Ukraine but also to address the long-term need to take on much more responsibility for our own European security, said von der Leyen during a press briefing.

The money will be used for air defense weapons, artillery, drones and ammunition – and ultimately for continued military support to Kiev.

– With this equipment, member states can massively step up their support to Ukraine. So, immediate military equipment for Ukraine, the EU leader continued, declaring that “Europe should shoulder more of the responsibility for its own security”.

Many ambiguities

It is also proposed to allow EU countries to use money distributed through EU regional aid for military spending – money that would normally go to research, environmental work and investments to improve living standards in EU countries.

So far, there are also many uncertainties surrounding the multi-billion euro investment. For example, it is not clear how the new EU fund will be financed or how the budgetary rules will change.

It should also be noted that in parallel with the Commission’s announcement, the EU’s foreign affairs chief, Kaja Kallas, is trying to push through another military aid package for Ukraine worth at least €20 billion – a proposal opposed by both Hungary and Slovakia.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/world/french-mep-wants-to-take-back-the-statue-of-liberty/

World

French MEP wants to “take back” the Statue of Liberty

Donald Trump's USA

Published 18 March 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Raphael Glucksmann says Americans today “despise” the Statue of Liberty and what it stands for.
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French-Jewish MEP Raphael Glucksmann wants France to “take back” the Statue of Liberty 140 years after it was donated to the US.

The reason is that, according to Glucksmann, Americans have “chosen to side with tyrants” and that the American people today allegedly “despise” the ideals that, according to the left-liberal politician, the statue represents.

On October 28, 1886, the Statue of Liberty was unveiled in New York Harbor, on the occasion of the centenary of the American Declaration of Independence. Designed by Frenchman Auguste Bartholdi, the statue was a gift from the French people to the Americans and has since become one of the world’s most famous tourist destinations.

However, Raphael Glucksmann, a member of the Socialist Group in the European Parliament, is now calling for the statue to be returned to France – citing his disapproval of the political path taken by the Trump administration.

– We’re going to say to the Americans who have chosen to side with the tyrants, to the Americans who fired researchers for demanding scientific freedom: ‘Give us back the Statue of Liberty’, the politician proclaimed at a party congress.

The “tyrants” are presumed to refer to Russia and its leadership in Moscow, and Glucksmann, a long-time supporter of Ukraine, campaigned last year to further increase French aid to Kiev.

– We gave it to you as a gift, but apparently you despise it. So it will be just fine here at home, the MEP continued during the party event.

“Welcoming” laid-off American scientists

Furthermore, Glucksmann argues that the Americans who are losing their jobs due to the Trump administration’s public sector cuts are instead very welcome to live and work in France.

– If you want to fire your best researchers, if you want to fire all the people who, through their freedom and their sense of innovation, their taste for doubt and research, have made your country the world’s leading power, then we’re going to welcome them.

However, any “return” of the 46-meter statue is highly unlikely. On social media, many users see Glucksmann’s statement as another example of how difficult it is for many European politicians to deal with the political shift that Trump’s presidency has brought to the US and the world.

Some observers also point to the fact that France, Germany and other European countries have acted as an extension of the United States in foreign policy for decades, and now that US priorities have changed, they no longer have a clear plan on how to deal with the Americans.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-finance-minister-european-war-economy-is-a-positive-thing/

Sweden

Swedish finance minister: European war economy is a positive thing

The new cold war

Published 17 March 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Elisabeth Svantesson admits that “war economy” has a negative connotation - but that this time it is about something completely different.
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EU leaders want Europe to arm itself militarily and to do so in a big way – additional defense spending of around €800 billion proposed .

Sweden’s Finance Minister Elisabeth Svantesson (M) is one of many leaders who welcome the development, saying there are many advantages to “a modern European war economy”.

During the Moderate Party’s Sweden Days, the Finance Minister shared her thoughts on how to strengthen Sweden’s defense – and how to maintain or further expand support to Ukraine.

– I realize that what I’m about to say is going to sound a bit drastic, but I envision a European war economy, Svantesson explains.

She admits that for most people the word “war economy” has a very negative connotation and brings to mind ration cards and coffee surrogates – but this time, she claims, it means something completely different.

– This is not what I am after, the modern war economy actually rests on two parts. First, a strong and growing economy – because that is a precondition for a strong defense.

“Fewer communicators – more companies”

The second part, according to Svantesson, is about having “order and clarity” in public finances while being able to prioritize money for “defense and security”.

– Now we are reprioritizing. Aid has decreased, it is still very high, but we can strengthen Sweden’s security and safety. To be specific, it’s really about fewer communicators and more companies.

The Finance Minister emphasizes that Sweden is certainly no closer to a full-scale war today than it was yesterday, but says that it is instead a matter of preparing mentally and highlighting how important it is for Sweden to carry out a military rearmament.

Wants to borrow billions

– You should feel calm, we have economic muscle and a large unit in the Swedish parliament that creates stability, they say.

Despite the “financial muscle”, Svantesson confirms that the government will still need to borrow several billions to finance the initiative.

– We will need to borrow for a few years to quickly reach the levels needed.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/europe/sweden-deploys-fighter-jets-to-poland-contributes-to-natos-deterrence/

Europe

Sweden deploys fighter jets to Poland: “Contributes to NATO’s deterrence”

Sweden-NATO-relationship

Published 8 March 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The Swedish Jas 39 Gripen will be operated by the NATO Combined Air Operations Center in Uedem, Germany.
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From April, Swedish Gripen aircraft will be stationed in Poland and participate in NATO’s airspace surveillance operation – “Enhanced Air Policing”.

– Through Gripen fighter jets, Sweden contributes both to the protection of NATO’s airspace and to the protection of continued supplies of weapons to Ukraine, says Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard (M).

It involves 6 to 8 Gripen aircraft with associated pilots and service personnel that will be based in Poland between April and June, and the government claims that there are “strong security policy reasons for Swedish participation”.

– It is the first time that Swedish fighter jets have participated in airspace surveillance from the territory of another ally. It is also the first time that Swedish fighter aircraft participate abroad in NATO’s enhanced airspace surveillance under NATO’s leadership, says Minister of Defense Pål Jonson (M).

– Supporting Ukraine is the Government’s main foreign policy task. The focus is and remains on strengthening Ukraine through military, political and civilian support. With our participation in the air defense operation, we contribute to protecting the supplies and thus ensure that the support to Ukraine arrives, says Fredrik Malm, second vice chairman of the Liberal Party.

Will identify “anomalous air activity”

The centre-right government also wants the Gripen planes to remain in Poland over the summer to help support and coordinate arms deliveries to Ukraine.

– By contributing to NATO’s overall deterrence and defense, the air force also strengthens Sweden’s security. It is an important development of our capability and another step for the Air Force to become fully integrated into NATO’s air defense, says Jörgen Axelsson, Chief of Operations of the Air Force.

The Swedish Jas 39 Gripen aircraft will be managed by NATO’s Combined Air Operations Center in Uedem, Germany. NATO’s air policing program, which has existed since the 1960s but was greatly expanded in 2014 following the Russian annexation of Crimea, is essentially a “deterrent” against Russia.

“Incident response and airspace surveillance will respond to anomalous air activity in the area of operations. This may involve identifying, meeting and escorting aircraft that do not respond to calls or that move towards the territory of the alliance”, the Swedish Armed Forces write.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-government-backs-eus-multi-billion-military-expansion/

Sweden

Swedish government backs EU’s multi-billion military expansion

The new cold war

Published 6 March 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Ulf Kristersson says it is more dangerous not to invest heavily in Europe's military rearmament.
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The Swedish Prime Minister announces that the government fully supports the European Commission’s proposal to invest almost €800 billion extra in the Union’s military rearmament.

– These are good proposals. A united government and a united EU committee are behind this, says Ulf Kristersson.

The plan, presented by the heavily criticized President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, aims to “free up” around €800 billion for defense spending to rapidly strengthen Europe’s military capabilities and deliver more weapons to Ukraine.

– Europe is ready to massively boost its defense spending. Both, to respond to the short-term urgency to act and to support Ukraine but also to address the long-term need to take on much more responsibility for our own European security, said von der Leyen, stating that ‘we are in a time of rearmament’.

The plan includes the creation of a new EU fund to allow member states to borrow money for military investments – but also the lifting of strict EU budget rules and allowing member states to run larger deficits without the risk of fines or austerity measures – if the money is spent on defense.

– This is a plan that aims to help Ukraine, but also to support European countries to quickly build up greater military capabilities so that we become better at defending Europe and do not assume that it is American taxpayers who in the long run will finance so much of European defense, says Ulf Kristersson.

Missiles and drones on loan

He clarifies that Sweden supports all parts of the European Commission’s proposal, which includes allowing European countries to borrow a total of €150 billion to buy air defense, missiles and drones.

– The greatest responsibility falls on individual member states. We are simplifying some of the rules so that countries with a tougher economy have a little more freedom of movement so that they can use a little more resources for military defense, and we are using the collective strength of the EU to get a little lower interest on the loans that individual countries need to take to increase their defense capabilities.

– Right now, it would be a bigger threat to Europe not to equip the European member states’ defenses more strongly, he continues.

The Social Democrats also support the EU plan and the party’s EU policy spokesperson, Matilda Ernkrans, told state television that they have long advocated this type of strategy.

“This is exactly what we Social Democrats have advocated. Increased opportunities for EU member states to take out loans via the EU to equip their defense. It is good that the government is now giving its support to this”.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com
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