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A senior European Union diplomat issued a stark warning Wednesday about the need for increased defense spending, echoing recent concerns voiced by both U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Kaja Kallas emphasized the urgent necessity for European nations to boost their military expenditure, building upon Macron’s earlier appeal for Europe to “wake up” regarding defense matters.

The timing of these statements follows a pattern of escalating concerns from European officials about defense preparedness, particularly since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which has prompted numerous calls for military readiness.

Trump’s recent statements have intensified the discourse, suggesting he might withdraw U.S. protection if NATO allies fail to increase their defense contributions. His specific demand calls for NATO members to raise their defense spending target from two percent to five percent.

“President Trump is right to say that we don’t spend enough. It’s time to invest,” Kallas said in a keynote speech at a Brussels conference. “The United States, they are our strongest ally, and must remain so.”

“The E.U.’s message to the U.S. is clear, we must do more for our own defence and shoulder a fair share of responsibility for Europe’s security,” she said.

“Russia poses an existential threat to our security today, tomorrow and for as long as we under-invest in our defence,” said Kallas, a former prime minister of Estonia.

“Many of our national intelligence agencies are giving us the information that Russia could test EU’s readiness to defend itself in three to five years. Who else are we listening to?”

The situation has prompted scheduled informal talks between E.U. leaders, British Prime Minister Kier Starmer, and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, set for February 3rd, focusing on strengthening European defense capabilities.

Rutte expressed his belief that Trump’s potential return would accelerate defense spending and production efforts across the alliance.