Europe’s military readiness plans at risk despite record defence spending

Europe has set 2030 as a target for being militarily ready, but political commitment and higher budgets have not closed its capability gaps. The Commission warns that external borders, critical infrastructure and European values face growing threats, including hybrid attacks. The European Defence Agency also reports persistent weaknesses in Europe’s military capabilities.

The problem is not simply how much Europe spends. Forces must be deployable, sustainable and interoperable, meaning they can operate together over time. Europe also needs strategic enablers such as transport, refuelling, space and cyber capabilities. These support combat forces but remain incomplete. Counter-drone programmes show the gap clearly: only one-third are expected to deliver by 2030.

The United States’ planned reduction of its European presence adds pressure. The EU therefore wants stronger common instruments and faster crisis responses. Without quicker progress, Europe may remain politically determined but operationally unable to respond rapidly to a serious crisis.

Europe invested €418 billion in defence in 2025, reflecting an unprecedented political push to strengthen security. Yet the European Defence Agency says this spending has not fully become usable military power. Its first Annual Defence Readiness Report highlights persistent gaps in Europe’s capabilities.

Reliable forces need more than equipment purchases. They must be deployable, sustainable and interoperable. Deployable forces can reach a crisis. Sustainable forces can continue operating. Interoperable forces can communicate and fight alongside other national units. The article does not identify one single cause for the shortfall, but it shows that key support capabilities, including strategic transport and air defence, remain incomplete.

The warning is especially serious because Europe faces its most dangerous security environment since the Cold War. The Commission says investment must continue in air and missile defence, drones, counter-drone systems and ammunition. More money is arriving, but delivery and coordination must catch up before 2030.

Strategic enablers are critical support assets and force multipliers. They do not necessarily fight at the front, but they make combat forces usable. The Commission lists strategic transport, air-to-air refuelling, space capabilities and cyber defence among the systems Europe needs to develop.

Their mechanisms are practical. Strategic transport moves troops and equipment to a crisis. Air-to-air refuelling extends aircraft range and time in the air. Space systems support operations across long distances. Cyber defence protects military networks and helps forces function when digital systems are targeted. Together, these capabilities allow forces to deploy and operate efficiently.

Europe’s shortfall is costly. EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius says building the bloc’s own enablers could cost €500 billion, partly because the United States is reducing its military presence in Europe. The Commission plans a new European Instrument for Strategic Enablers, developed with member states.

If capability gaps remain by 2030, Europe’s ability to respond to a crisis could be slow, limited or difficult to sustain. The Commission says Europe must strengthen its resilience, preparedness and capacity to respond rapidly to crises, or worse. That warning links readiness directly to practical response, not just political intent.

A crisis response depends on support systems as well as combat units. Without enough strategic transport, air-to-air refuelling, space assets, cyber defence, ammunition and air defence, forces may struggle to arrive, coordinate or keep operating. Weak interoperability could further complicate joint action between national militaries. The article identifies these missing capabilities as persistent gaps.

The consequences would be more serious as hybrid threats increase and the United States reduces its military presence in Europe. The EU is proposing shared strategic-enabler funding and a Security Emergency Protocol for faster common action. These measures aim to close gaps before a possible Russian test of NATO around 2030.

The United States has decided to reduce its military presence in Europe as part of a force posture review. The change includes withdrawing strategic enablers, which are the support capabilities that help combat forces deploy and operate. Europe therefore faces a larger responsibility for its own defence.

The EU Defence Commissioner says the bloc must develop its own strategic enablers to fill the gap. That means investing in capabilities such as strategic transport, air-to-air refuelling, space systems and cyber defence. These assets support many countries at once, so cooperation through the EU and its member states is central. The Commission proposes a new instrument for this purpose.

The scale is substantial. Building Europe’s own enablers could cost €500 billion, while defence spending reached €418 billion in 2025. The United States’ reduced role makes existing gaps more urgent and strengthens the case for common European planning, funding and rapid crisis-response arrangements.

Hybrid threats combine different forms of pressure against a country or alliance. Unlike a conventional invasion, they do not depend mainly on large formations crossing a border and holding territory. They can involve drones, cyberattacks, sabotage, disinformation or attacks on infrastructure. Their mixed and sometimes ambiguous nature can make responsibility and response harder to establish.

The article gives several examples. An explosive-laden drone was found near sensitive Ukrainian cargo at a German airport. Commercial vessels sank in the Black Sea after drone attacks, and drones have entered airspace along Europe’s eastern flank. These incidents target transport, infrastructure or security without looking like a traditional battlefield offensive. Cyber defence is therefore included among Europe’s strategic needs.

Hybrid threats still demand military readiness. NATO created its multi-domain Eastern Sentry programme after drone incursions, while the EU is considering a Security Emergency Protocol. Europe’s challenge is to detect such pressure, protect vulnerable systems and respond quickly before separate incidents become a wider crisis.

European countries need interoperable forces because defence crises rarely fit within one national military. Units must communicate, share information, use compatible systems and coordinate logistics. They also need common procedures so forces can deploy together and keep operating. Without interoperability, Europe may possess many national capabilities but lack one effective response.

The mechanism is cooperation. EU programmes can combine member-state investment in strategic transport, air defence, drones, ammunition, space and cyber capabilities. NATO provides a wider framework for collective defence and has already responded to drone incursions with Eastern Sentry. Shared planning, exercises and compatible equipment help separate forces act as one force.

The current picture remains incomplete. The European Defence Agency reports persistent capability gaps, and Europe’s ambitions have not yet produced fully deployable, sustainable and interoperable forces. EU and NATO cooperation can improve credibility, but the 2030 goal requires faster delivery and continued investment.