The European Union’s defense industry chief, Andrius Kubilius, will travel to Washington this week to seek assurances that the United States’ shift toward the Indo-Pacific will not leave Europe exposed to security risks. Amid fears of a reduction in US military presence, Kubilius wants clarity on what European forces may need to replace and at what cost.

With President Donald Trump’s administration expected to announce a reduction in US military deployments in Europe, Brussels is moving quickly to identify potential security gaps. Kubilius said he wants to understand precisely which US military capabilities—particularly air defence and intelligence—might be withdrawn and how long it would take for Europe to fill the void. “We want to know how much it will cost and how long it will take so that there are no gaps,” he told Bloomberg.

Kubilius’s visit comes amid heightened concerns over the future of European security, which remains heavily reliant on US capabilities despite NATO members agreeing to increase their defence spending. The continued strain from Russia’s war on Ukraine has only added to Europe’s sense of urgency.

EU Steps Up Defense Funding

Brussels has already created a €150 billion loan fund to support joint weapons procurement, including aid for Ukraine. However, this fund excludes US companies, reflecting broader European ambitions to boost domestic defense industries. Kubilius acknowledged the US pressure on allies to prioritize American arms but emphasized Europe’s right to pursue its own strategic autonomy.

EU treaties bar using this fund to purchase US weapons for Ukraine directly, but it can help free up national budgets for additional arms spending. The bloc’s objective is to avoid dependence on Washington while ensuring no security gaps emerge during any US transition toward Asia.

Tensions Over "Buy European" Policies

Kubilius’s trip will also aim to address US unease over EU policies that encourage European states to prioritize domestic defence products. While the US expects allies to buy American weapons as they rearm, Kubilius warned this is becoming increasingly unpopular in Europe. “We hear sometimes from American industries that we are closing the doors for American weapons systems,” he said.

Nevertheless, he pointed out that most defense spending still takes place at the national level and remains outside EU regulatory frameworks, despite the bloc’s push for more integration.

NATO Dynamics and Ukraine Aid

The talks follow a NATO summit where members reaffirmed collective defence commitments and pledged to ramp up military spending. Trump recently announced additional weapons deliveries to Ukraine, funded largely by European allies, while also threatening harsh sanctions on Russian oil if Vladimir Putin fails to end the war within 50 days.

The EU’s trip to Washington is part of broader efforts to ensure the bloc is prepared to defend itself should the US further pivot toward Asia and reduce its focus on European security.