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800 Billion for Rearmament – Bridge Illumination in Theißen for Peace on 19 Feb 2026Ursula von der Leyen had announced at the Munich Security Conference that she wants to match the USA in terms of military spending. Peace activists, including those in Theißen, oppose this. Arnd Eiert: On 19 Feb 2026, starting at 6 p.m., the bridge illumination over the B2 between Grana and Theißen once again took place – as it has every Thursday, now in its third year – this weekly protest by the peace activists “Rebellion Zeitz.” In all weather, in sunshine, rain, heat, cold, storms and snow – no matter what: to stand upright and show their faces for peace and justice is an innermost need for these steadfast, upright patriots! Great respect and thanks for that! You are role models for the entire people of Germany!!! Finding the courage and strength to seriously reflect on a secure future for our families and to stand up publicly for it should urgently grip the majority of the German population so they finally get up off the couch and become active … When sons and grandsons are brought back from the eastern front in coffins, it will definitely be too late! We need peace and not wars! Ursula von der Leyen at the “Munich Security Conference” 2026: Ladies and gentlemen, I am very pleased to be here today together with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – an unwavering ally and friend. Dear Keir, we both know the background of our discussion, the nature of transatlantic relations. We are now almost four years after the start of Russia’s ruthless aggression against Ukraine. At the same time, we face a very concrete threat from external forces trying to weaken our Union from within. Openly hostile competition and power politics have returned. The European way of life, our democracies, their foundations and the trust of our citizens are being challenged in new ways – from territorial issues to tariffs to technology regulation. At its core, all this points to a simple reality in today’s fragmented world: Europe must become more independent. There is no other choice. Independent in every dimension that concerns our security and prosperity – defense and energy, economy and trade, raw materials and digital technologies. Some may say that the word independence contradicts our transatlantic alliance. The opposite is true – and we have just heard it from Secretary Rubio. An independent Europe is a strong Europe. And a strong Europe strengthens the transatlantic alliance. Now is the time to act. And I want to focus on Europe’s plan for independence. For context, I would like to quote a line from Jerry Freyham, a U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense who spoke here in Munich in the 1970s. I quote: “If a nation does not primarily feel responsible for its own security and well-being, it will leave this task to others and fail to mobilize its own resources and political will for its defense.” I chose this quote from the 1970s because it reflects an uncomfortable truth over many decades: Europe’s security was not always regarded as our primary responsibility. But that has fundamentally changed. Because the very same argument applies today. Europe must act and take responsibility. Admittedly, it took a kind of shock therapy, and lines were crossed that cannot be undone. But at least we all agree on this – what is necessary. And we are delivering. The numbers speak for themselves. Defense spending in Europe has risen by nearly 80% by 2025 compared to the period before the war in Ukraine. The European Union is mobilizing up to 800 billion euros. With our SAFE program, we are investing in the capabilities we need – from air and missile defense to drones to military mobility. We have been determined and creative in maintaining our support for Ukraine. This recently also includes a loan of 90 billion euros that Ukraine only has to repay if Russia pays reparations. By 2028, defense investments in Europe are expected even to exceed the amount the United States spent last year on corresponding equipment. This is a real European awakening – and it is only the beginning of what we must do. We must build a European backbone of strategic capabilities – in space, reconnaissance, and deep-strike capabilities. No taboo must remain untouched. I believe the time has come to bring Europe’s mutual assistance clause to life. Mutual defense is not an optional task for the European Union. It is an obligation in our own treaty – Article 42 paragraph 7. And for good reason: it is our collective promise to stand up for each other in the event of an attack. Or simply put: one for all, all for one. That is Europe’s meaning. But this promise only carries weight if it is based on trust and capabilities. That is why we must be ready together. We must decide faster. That can mean relying on qualified majorities instead of unanimity. We do not have to change the treaties for this – we must use the existing ones and be creative. Take the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force, which operates outside but complementary to NATO. It unites ten European countries for deterrence and reassurance in the High North and Baltic region, with an operational headquarters in Northwood in the United Kingdom. Or the coalition of the willing under the leadership of the United Kingdom and President Macron based in Paris. This coalition is developing concrete security guarantees for Ukraine. More than 30 countries are involved, some of them not even European. These examples show: it can work. But now we must formalize the ad hoc beginnings of new security cooperation. That begins with cooperation with our closest partners – such as the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland or Canada. The European Union now has a comprehensive network of defense and security partnerships worldwide. And we want to expand our offer to many of these important partners. Especially in these volatile times, Europe and particularly the United Kingdom should move closer together on questions of security, the economy, and the defense of our democracies. Ten years after Brexit, our future prospects are more closely intertwined than ever, dear Keir. It is in our common interest to be ambitious in our partnership. Because the United Kingdom and the European Union – indeed all of Europe – stand together in this situation. And we will stick together. That is the shared promise. This brings me to my second priority: the need for a new European security strategy. We urgently need to recalibrate how we deploy our entire political toolbox – trade, finance, standards, data, critical infrastructure, technology platforms and information. At its core, every single one of our policies in this new world order needs a clear security dimension. Europe should be ready and willing to use its strength confidently and proactively to protect its security interests. We need a new doctrine with a simple goal: to ensure that Europe can at all times defend its own territory, its economy, its democracy and its way of life. Because that is ultimately the true meaning of independence. How do we implement all this? I find the answer in Ukraine. Ukraine has shown that strength, deterrence, and ultimately survival depend on industrial capacity – on producing, scaling and persevering over long periods. In Ukraine they say: you change – or you die. We must adopt this mantra as well. We must tear down the rigid wall between the civilian and military sectors. Europe is an industrial powerhouse – in automobile production, aerospace and mechanical engineering. We should not view these industries as purely commercial, but as core components of the defense and value-creation chain. We have inspiring European defense technology champions. We just need to promote them. This applies especially to dual-use technologies – AI, cyber, drones, space. Their path to market readiness must be fast. That too is a lesson from Ukraine. That is why the new EU Office for Defense Innovation in Kyiv combines European scale with Ukrainian speed and ingenuity. With this approach we can quickly close capability gaps. Drones are the most obvious example. They cause around 80% of combat damage on both sides in Ukraine. That is why we are investing massively and accelerating innovation and production in this area. Or consider command and control. We know we have too many different weapons systems – tanks, aircraft, ships. But new technologies like AI and software can create interoperability between member states, NATO and the European Union. And that is exactly what Europe does well. We have all agreed to spend more. Now we must actually deploy the money and turn it into real defense capabilities. Some ask whether we can afford it. I say: we cannot afford not to do it. If we do it right – and we will – we will ignite the turbo for a new industrial upswing. This will not only make us safer, but also become a growth engine that brings prosperity to Europeans for decades. Yes, a lot is at stake for Europe. But there is just as much potential to seize. I have spoken a lot about equipment, investments and doctrine. But I would like to close with a thought from David Cameron, from a speech to new recruits in 2010. He knew like few others that peace is never something to be taken for granted. And investments in security are not only about hardware – they go far beyond that. As he said: “Peace and freedom are inseparably linked. And it must be the goal of security policy to protect them.” Peace and freedom. That is what Ukraine is fighting for today. We must honor its sacrifice with our striving for an independent Europe. That will always remain Europe’s answer and mission. The new beginning of our Union. Thank you very much – and long live Europe. Author: AI-Translation - Redaktion | |
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