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EU Investment Tool Aims to Replenish Weapons Stockpiles

  • 500 million-euro tool to incentivize joint purchases of arms
  • Stockpiles are dwindling as member states send arms to Ukraine
A US MANPADs is launched at a NATO firing test in Crete.

A US MANPADs is launched at a NATO firing test in Crete.

Photographer: Sgt. 1st Class Jason Epperson/Digital
Updated on

The European Union is proposing a 500 million-euro ($508 million) investment tool to boost joint weapons purchases among member states, in a bid to help replace stockpiles depleted by arms shipments to Ukraine. 

As EU countries ramp up defense spending following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the bloc’s preliminary instrument aims to incentivize a minimum of three member states to buy weapons jointly, such as artillery, air defense systems and anti-tank missiles. The measure would draw from the EU budget for the next two years.