<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>Defense Minister Margarita Robles met with European Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius on Monday, discussing the development of the continent's new deterrent capabilities following the publication of the White Paper on Defense and the presentation of the first proposals for the Commission's plan to rearm Europe.</strong></h4> During the meeting, held in Madrid on the occasion of Kubilius' participation in the fourth meeting of the Ukraine Support Group (G5+), Robles and the commissioner agreed on the need to strengthen the deterrent capabilities of EU Member States and, in this regard, to work in ongoing coordination to develop new technologies, focusing not only on increasing production capacity but also on strategic enablers: Artificial Intelligence, Intel data, secure communications, space, and cybersecurity. “The defense industry is not just another industry. Its driving force and its drive for new technologies contribute to modernizing countries, from education to the creation of quality jobs,” stated Minister Robles, who shared with Kubilius the importance of not burdening the industry with excessive regulations, according to a press release from the Ministry of Defense. <h5><strong>Andrius Kubilius: “If a country does not invest in its own defense, it weakens all the others”</strong></h5> The Commissioner also spoke this Monday at the fifth edition of 'Wake Up, Spain,' the forum organized by El Español, Invertia, and Disruptores, which was inaugurated by King Felipe VI. During this event, Andrius Kubilius warned that defense is one of the EU's greatest challenges and requires “the solidarity of all Member States.” “Our defense is based on the principle of collective defense. If a country does not invest in its own defense, it weakens all the others in their defense,” he stated. “That's why the European Commission has presented the White Paper on European Defense and its Readiness for 2030: proposals to increase defense production and radically increase defense spending. We want to create opportunities for all Member States to mobilize up to €800 billion for defense,” he continued. “Spain decides how much to spend on defense. Spain decides what investments it wants to make,” but “we want to build a defense industry right here in Europe,” he warned. “Spain has a strong defense industry. Spain is at the forefront in shipbuilding and air defense, and in space,” and, within this framework, “a strong Spanish defense industry and a strong European defense industry will also help us defend Europe.” According to the commissioner, Russian President Vladimir Putin “hates the European Union; he would like to destroy the European Union.” “It is producing weapons on a massive scale; in three months, Russia produces more weapons than all NATO members do in a year,” and, “if we do nothing, Putin could be tempted to use that military power,” he warned. "We can still deter Russian aggression, prevent war, and preserve peace by taking responsibility for our own defense," he added.
