PARIS — In a significant move to bolster military production, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom are advocating for reduced regulations on defense manufacturers. This initiative aims to accelerate the production of weapons amid heightened security concerns in Europe.
During a press conference on Wednesday, French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu emphasized the need for a paradigm shift, stating,
“We are calling for the defense industry to no longer be treated as just another industry.”
His comments followed a meeting with defense leaders from the so-called E5 nations in Paris, marking the third such gathering since the format was established after the re-election of U.S. President Donald Trump in November.
Response to heightened security threats
The appeal from Europe’s military powerhouses comes at a critical time as the continent seeks to strengthen its defense capabilities in light of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggressive policies and uncertainties surrounding the future of U.S. military support in the region.
On the same day of the E5 meeting, discussions were held on Ukraine’s situation and the broader European defense landscape, following a prior gathering of 37 military chiefs from the EU and NATO (excluding the U.S.) to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine. These talks coincided with a U.S. proposal, accepted by Kyiv, for a 30-day truce in the ongoing conflict.
In a joint statement released post-meeting, the five ministers called for a thorough review of EU regulations and national laws that could “hinder or slow down” the production and procurement of weapons. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated,
“We need to reduce red tape within the EU to come up with practical headways for European defense.”
Germany’s Boris Pistorius echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the necessity of deregulation at both the European and national levels.
Strengthening transatlantic ties amid uncertainty
The discussions on Wednesday highlighted the importance of maintaining strong transatlantic relations, despite an apparent shift in military strategy. While it appeared that the military chiefs were exploring a framework for security independent of U.S. involvement, defense ministers from Italy, the U.K., and Poland reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration with the United States.
Crosetto remarked,
“We don’t want to stop our commercial relationship with the U.S., no one in Europe wants to be antagonistic with the U.S.”
He cautioned against jeopardizing the Western alliance for the sake of industrial independence. Poland’s Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz also emphasized his desire to strengthen transatlantic ties, noting that Europe’s defense industry currently lacks the production capabilities of the U.S.
Germany is beginning to consider a future with diminished U.S. influence. Pistorius revealed that he had previously requested a meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Pete Hegseth, to discuss organizing capabilities and burden-sharing, particularly in light of potential shifts in U.S. military focus to the Indo-Pacific region.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding the U.S. commitment, the E5 nations have collectively committed to enhancing European industrial cooperation across crucial areas like munitions, air defense, and early warning systems.
As the conflict in Ukraine continues, all defense ministers conveyed that the responsibility for peace lies with Putin, urging him to accept a proposed truce. They also discussed plans for a coalition of 15 nations to prepare for various scenarios, outlining that this group would begin planning next week under the leadership of France and the U.K.
Lecornu noted that,
“There is a very broad consensus emerging: The first security guarantee for Ukraine is the Ukrainian army, its training, format, capacity, and equipment.”
He emphasized the importance of addressing urgent issues, such as security in the Black Sea and the safety of nuclear facilities.
Looking ahead, more discussions are anticipated. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to host a leaders’ summit on Saturday, while Pistorius and the U.K.’s John Healy will co-chair a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels in the coming weeks. Further E5 meetings are planned in Italy and the U.K. within the upcoming months.