EU chief of foreign affairs to "increase defense costs"...Trump's theory of 5% GDP squeeze

EU, EU foreign minister says defense investment needs to be increased

Kaya Kallas, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs and security, told a news conference at the North and South European summit in Lapland, Finland, on the 22nd local time, "If we want to prevent war, we need to do more in the defense sector.""Russia poses a direct threat to European security, but security depends on various components and the location of east, west, north, and south," said senior representative
Kallas. "The key is that we can solve it if we act together."

The leaders of Sweden, Finland, Italy and Greece, who attended the summit, also said in unison that more investment is needed for European security.

According to data released by the EU Defense Agency, EU member states' defense spending last year totaled 279 billion euros, up 10% from the previous year, and about 422 trillion won in our money.

The increase is expected to continue as European countries have stepped up their security since the war in Ukraine.

However, despite this trend, it will be difficult for Europe to avoid pressure from U.S. President-elect Trump to increase defense spending.

Trump has conveyed to European officials that he will demand a plan to raise the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and NATO's defense spending target from 2% to 5% of current GDP when he takes office next month, Politico and others reported, citing the Financial Times and the Telegraph.

Asked about Trump, Italian Prime Minister Jorja Meloni said at a press conference that she believes he should not follow various rumors and will wait until his inauguration day to understand exactly what Trump's real intentions are.