Critics question EU’s shift towards funding foreign military operations
The European Union (EU), long recognized for its efforts in promoting peace and reconciliation, faces mounting criticism for its evolving military stance. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012 for six decades of fostering peace, the EU has recently taken significant steps towards enhancing its military capabilities and engaging in military operations outside its borders.
In December 2020, the EU agreed to establish an €8 billion European Defence Fund (EDF), designed to aid the development and acquisition of new weapons and technology for militaries within the EU and beyond. Additionally, the launch of the European Peace Facility (EPF) marks a historic shift, enabling the EU to provide training and military equipment—including weapons—to non-European armed forces.
While these measures may bolster the EU’s defense strategy, they raise important questions. Critics argue that if the EU’s mission is indeed to promote peace, the funding of military activities, particularly involving weapons, could undermine its core values. The development comes at a time when the global focus has been on tackling the ongoing pandemic, which has led many to overlook the long-term implications of these military escalations.
