his photograph shows the Press Centre at the EU headquarters during the Special European Council to discuss continued support for Ukraine and European defence, in Brussels on March 6, 2025. (Photo by HATIM KAGHAT / BELGA / AFP)
Brussels: EU countries on Thursday gave a green light to plans to boost the bloc's defences as a bulwark against Russia, as President Donald Trump pivots away from America's transatlantic partners, a spokeswoman for the European Council said.
The European Union's 27 leaders "agreed" on a defence text at summit talks in Brussels, the spokeswoman said. The text endorses a European Commission plan that aims to mobilise 800 billion euros ($863 billion) to "re-arm Europe", chiefly by freeing states to spend more.
