The European Union is facing a serious reality check—what happens when Uncle Sam decides to pack up and leave? With Trump pulling the plug on military aid to Ukraine and cozying up to Putin, Europe suddenly finds itself scrambling to beef up its own defenses. The EU’s big solution? The ReArm Europe plan—an ambitious €800 billion ($872 billion) military spending package designed to make Europe more self-reliant.
But there’s just one problem: even some of Europe’s closest allies aren’t buying it. The Dutch parliament narrowly rejected participation in the EU’s defense plan in a dramatic 73-71 vote, despite the proposal coming from their own Prime Minister, Dick Schoof. Right-wing party JA21 led the charge against it, with surprising support from several coalition partners and even opposition Socialist lawmakers.
Although the vote isn’t legally binding, it throws a massive wrench into the EU’s plans. And the Dutch weren’t exactly subtle about it either. Lawmakers dismissed the proposal as outright “rubbish,” making it clear they have little faith in von der Leyen’s grand vision.
Ursula’s Grand Plan
The plan, pushed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, aims to mobilize nearly €800 billion to boost Europe’s military strength. The idea is to secure €150 billion in loans and relax fiscal rules to free up €650 billion more for defense spending.
The EU hopes this will build a stronger domestic arms industry and reduce reliance on outside suppliers—because let’s face it, Europe has been relying on U.S. military backing for far too long.
The shift in strategy isn’t just about Trump’s unpredictability. It’s about the growing realization that the U.S. might not always be around to save the day. With Washington freezing aid to Ukraine, European leaders are worried they’ll have to handle things alone sooner rather than later.
After Trump’s tense meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky, the message was loud and clear: Europe can no longer assume American support is a given. And if the EU doesn’t start preparing now, it risks being completely unprepared for future conflicts.
The EU’s defense push has some strong backers, with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock calling it “an important first step” toward Europe taking charge of its own security. Even NATO Secretary General (and former Dutch PM) Mark Rutte has thrown his weight behind it, warning that withdrawing support would be “irresponsible.”
But in countries like the Netherlands, skepticism runs deep. Critics argue the plan would add to national debt and burden taxpayers. And with some NATO countries still struggling to meet even the minimum 2% defense spending target (let alone the 2.5% that the U.S. has been pushing for), there’s a real question of whether Europe can actually afford this plan.
For all of the EU’s dramatic meetings and bold proposals, the truth is that most European citizens don’t seem too worried about this so-called “grand ReArm plan.” Defense spending just doesn’t get people fired up the way economic issues do.
Will the Dutch ReArm Halt Impact EU?
That indifference could spell trouble for von der Leyen’s proposal. If public support is weak and key nations like the Netherlands refuse to commit, the entire plan risks falling apart before it even gets off the ground.
So, what happens next? Does the EU charge ahead, with or without everyone on board? Or does this become yet another overambitious Brussels initiative that fades into the background?
One thing is certain: if the U.S. does pull back permanently, Europe will have to step up at some point and put into action its ReArm plan. The only question is whether it happens now—or when it’s already too late.
