Helsinki (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Finland’s PM Petteri Orpo said joint borrowing by EU nations shouldn’t be ruled out if the funds were deployed to boost defenses on the EU’s eastern edges.
In an interview with state-owned broadcaster YLE, the Prime Minister, in a personal statement, said:
“I do not rule out the possibility that we could use joint European financing, including debt financing, specifically to strengthen defense, provided that the money is spent where Europe is defended.”
According to Orpo, Europe is not safeguarded in Western or Southern Europe, but, for instance, in Finland, the Baltics, Poland and elsewhere in Eastern Europe, “the sums are so large that we cannot do it alone.” Orpo further stated the government is pursuing support in the EU for a view that would raise flexibility into the deficit target for defense spending. The government is moving for a policy that security spending would not be calculated as part of the deficit target of EU member states.
How does Orpo view Trump’s agenda on global security?
Regarding Trump’s remarks on Greenland, Prime Minister Orpo said,
“You have to recall that Donald Trump has a special way of speaking. He speaks directly and bounces things up. And you have to differentiate between what he speaks and what is ultimately done.”
According to Orpo, Trump’s agenda is evident in his speeches. “If you think about these things, i.e., Greenland, Panama and Canada. You can see Trump’s agenda in the background. He wants to bolster the position of the United States in both trade and security.” Orpo stated Greenland is a crucial place in the Arctic, and 40 percent of US container traffic passes via the Panama Canal, which Asians mostly hold.
How does PM Orpo advocate for EU defense?
Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo has emphasized the need for strengthening European defense and security at large, taking into account the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. He states that the crisis is a sad reminder of the fragility of peace in Europe and calls for a holistic security approach that also includes border security and overall readiness.
Orpo said that the integration of the defense industry in Europe should be “priority number one” for enhancing it while challenging EU member states to pool resources for improvement in defense capabilities and ammunition production. Furthermore, he advocates for continued military support for Ukraine and stresses the necessity of swift decisions regarding financial assistance packages to bolster Ukraine’s defense efforts.
