As global security tensions mount, the European Union is accelerating efforts to reduce its dependence on foreign arms suppliers, particularly the United States, which continues to dominate the global defense market.
According to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the United States accounted for about 35% of global weapons exports between 2000 and 2024, far ahead of Russia, France, Germany and China. Together, those five suppliers controlled nearly three-quarters of the global arms trade. Europe remains one of Washington’s biggest customers: from 2000 to 2024, nearly half of all weapons imported into Europe came from the US, a share that has increased further since 2020.
European officials rarely frame the issue as distancing from Washington, but recent geopolitical uncertainty under Donald Trump — including pressure on allies to shoulder more defense costs and shifting positions on Ukraine and NATO — has sharpened the EU’s push for strategic autonomy.
Analysts say breaking free from US dependence will not be quick or easy. Many European states are locked into long-term systems such as the US-made F-35 fighter jet, which require American spare parts, software updates and logistical support for decades. “There is no way to change the dependence on the US in the short term,” said Aylin Matle of the German Council on Foreign Relations.
The challenge goes beyond hardware. Modern defense ties include software, intelligence sharing and command-and-control systems, meaning reliance often continues long after weapons are delivered. Experts argue current trade data likely underestimates how deeply intertwined defense industries have become.
To counter this, Brussels is backing initiatives such as the EU’s “Readiness 2030” plan, designed to strengthen Europe’s industrial base and incentivize member states to buy and build weapons within the bloc. Supporters say Europe already has significant production capacity, but political priorities and export commitments have often directed that output abroad rather than toward EU militaries.
However, diversification brings its own risks. Some countries that buy similar systems from multiple suppliers face costly logistical complexity. Others, like Brazil, manage diversity by sourcing different weapon types from different countries. Analysts warn that Europe must strike a balance between resilience and efficiency.
A further complication is raw materials. Many advanced weapons rely on rare earth minerals, a supply chain currently dominated by China. In seeking independence from US arms makers, Europe could become more exposed to Beijing’s leverage — highlighting the limits of full self-reliance in a highly interconnected global defense economy.
As EU leaders gather for upcoming security talks, the message is increasingly clear: Europe wants the capacity to defend itself if global crises stretch alliances thin, even if true independence remains a long-term and imperfect goal.
