European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius believes Sweden is well-positioned to lead the European Union’s rearmament initiatives.
During a visit to Sweden, Kubilius emphasized that Europe is undergoing the largest military buildup in the modern era and needs strong leadership from countries like Sweden.
“Sweden has a very strong defense industry and is conducting large-scale rearmament, making it a good example for other member states,” Kubilius said, as reported by STV.
During his visit to Sweden, European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius highlighted the country’s crucial role in Europe’s defense buildup, describing Sweden’s capabilities as “world-leading.”
Kubilius visited Karlskoga to meet with representatives of Sweden’s defense industry, including companies like Saab, and observed ammunition production and military vehicle manufacturing.
“The European defense industry is fragmented. There is no single market, and European countries are spending large sums outside Europe. These are the issues I discussed with the Swedish government and the defense industry,” he said.
When asked what Sweden can specifically contribute, he pointed to the country’s broad capabilities.
“I saw what Saab can do—artillery systems, armored vehicles. These are top-tier capabilities that make Sweden valuable to all of us,” Kubilius noted.
His comments come amid growing concerns over possible Russian aggression toward EU countries in the coming years and uncertainty surrounding the U.S. military presence in Europe.
“We are short on time to strengthen our defense capabilities. Intelligence services in EU countries have forecast that Russia may attempt to test NATO’s Article 5 before 2030,” he warned.
