EU Leaders Bow to NATO Pressure: Accelerated Rearmament and Speedy US Trade Pact Under Scrutiny

Brussels witnessed a critical meeting this week where European Union leaders agreed to ramp up military spending and capabilities, directly reflecting pressure exerted by NATO and former US President Donald Trump's insistence on increased defense commitments. At the heart of this accelerated rearmament is NATO's recent decision in The Hague to set a target of investing 5% of GDP into defense-related expenditures within the next decade. The EU, keen on demonstrating alignment, vowed to not just increase spending but to pursue "efficiency and fair burden-sharing" by avoiding redundant duplication of military assets across its 27 member states. European Council President...