Europe faces mounting pressure to strengthen its defense as conflicts on its borders and shifting global alliances create new strategic challenges. The war in Ukraine, instability in the Middle East, and renewed great-power competition have prompted several EU countries to reverse decades of military spending cuts. Germany’s creation of a special defense fund to build the continent’s strongest military has become a flashpoint in a broader debate over priorities.

Two European Parliament members, Austria’s Lukas Mandl and Belgium’s Marc Botenga, represent opposing views. Mandl supports increased investment in advanced military technology, arguing it is necessary to deter threats from Russia and other actors. Botenga counters that pouring money into weapons comes at the expense of vital domestic needs like education and healthcare.

The discussion reflects a deeper tension within the EU: how to balance reliance on NATO and the United States with a growing push for strategic autonomy. With Donald Trump’s return to the White House raising questions about U.S. commitment, European leaders are under pressure to take more responsibility for their own security. Yet there is no consensus on how much to spend, on what, or at what cost to social programs.