Europe’s five most militarily powerful countries are set to announce a new plan to invest in military drones as part of efforts to bolster their defense industries. The initiative comes at a time when Russia’s war in Ukraine continues and there are growing concerns about the United States’ commitment to NATO.
According to a document seen by Reuters and a source from Poland’s Defense Ministry, these five countries intend to cooperate on the development of autonomous drones – drones that can operate on their own, without being constantly guided by a human.
The war in Ukraine has shown that autonomous drones that capture and destroy aerial targets can be a cheaper and more effective alternative to expensive air defense missiles. For this reason, European countries want to benefit from Ukraine’s experience.
The defense ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Britain will meet in Krakow, Poland.
The meeting takes place at a time when European leaders are trying to increase defense capabilities, amid doubts about the US’s willingness to guarantee Europe’s security through the NATO alliance.
According to the draft declaration, the ministers support the increase in the production of arms and military equipment in Europe. They also welcome the European Union’s decision to give member states more freedom in the use of their defense budgets.
However, the document emphasizes that responsibility for protection remains at the national level, while the EU’s role is supportive.
The ministers also pledge to cooperate within NATO and the EU to confront hybrid threats from Russia, such as cyberattacks, disinformation or political interference, as well as to continue support for Ukraine and efforts to achieve peace.
They have agreed to launch a new initiative called “Low-Cost Effectors and Autonomous Platforms” (LEAP). Its goal is to strengthen cooperation in the development and acquisition of low-cost military assets and autonomous systems that can accomplish military objectives more efficiently.
In simpler terms, this means investing in cheaper, yet effective, equipment and drones that can be used on the battlefield without the need for constant human intervention.