Highlights
– European defense spending numbers from 2001 – 2006 indicate the continent, especially Western European states, are going through a military force transformation
– A more active Europe participating in global conflicts is likely in the mid to long-term.
Since 2001, the European continent has found itself increasingly involved in international military operations. Formulated in 2003, the European Union (EU) strategy lists combating terrorism, countering the spread of weapons of mass destruction, dealing with failed and failing states, and responding to regional emergencies as scenarios that may require military intervention. The new EU strategy offers a new look at a European continent that is more militarily active around the world, willing to combat a wide range of threats.
On top of the EU strategy, national governments in Europe have increased their commitments to international security and stabilization efforts. Military forces have been deployed to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Chad, East Timor, Darfur, the Horn of Africa, as well as contributing to United Nations (UN) peacekeeping operations worldwide.
Overall, from 2001 to 2006, the total number of European troops deployed overseas has increased from slightly over 65,000 to around 80,000.
Trends in Defense Spending
A report released by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on April 28, 2008, focused on defense budgets and personnel trends for European countries from 2001 to 2006. The report looked at defense spending in all European countries, including the 25 EU member states, as well as Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Norway, Serbia, Montenegro, Romania, Switzerland, and Turkey.
In constant 2006 US dollars, total European defense spending increased slightly during the 2001 – 2006 timeframe. During this period, the original 15 member states of the EU increased spending from US$234 billion to US$242 billion – a three percent growth. Relatively recent additions to the EU, such as Estonia, Poland, and Czech Republic have increased their military budgets by almost 15 percent. For non-EU nations, including Bulgaria, Norway, Romania, and Turkey, total spending on defense dropped from almost U$27 billion to slightly under US$25 billion.
Overall, European countries’ active troop levels have dropped 12 percent and total defense spending has increased 2.6 percent. However, defense investment, spending for procurement and research and development has increased almost 26 percent per soldier. European spending on defense investments suggests a more positive trend in the way nations allocate their resources, as the trends in defense investments have shifted over the six-year period and have been mirrored by trends in defense investment per soldier.
Personnel costs and the costs of maintaining equipment are only going to rise, so ultimately trends beginning to emerge in Europe will have to be sustained if better military capability is to be generated.
European defense spending numbers, especially the increase in per soldier defense investment, indicate Europe, particularly Western Europe, is committed to transforming its military toward a force transformation meaning the militaries’ are better equipped and have fewer soldiers. If Europe is going to adhere to its strategy of committing itself militarily on an international level, it must have a high-tech force capable of deploying rapidly, as conflicts in the 21st century tend to erupt with little or no warning.
Europe’s Future Military Role
If the trends regarding European defense spending discovered in the latest CSIS report continue, it may mean smaller, better-equipped European militaries in the years to come. It is clear in the 2003 EU strategy that the European continent is committed to participating in international operations, from within the continent to Africa to Asia.
Several modern militaries, including the United States, have gone through a force transformation to a smaller, better-equipped force capable of rapid deployment to any point in the world. Whether it is launching a rapid humanitarian operation in response to a sudden natural disaster or evacuating personnel from a country that is experiencing severe instability, a high-tech force capable of rapid deployment is vital.
It is likely that in the mid to long-term European defense spending will continue to fund this emergent trend of force transformation. However, this trend appears to only apply to the original 15 member states and Western European countries, as several eastern European states are lacking in advanced military technology to create a smaller, better-equipped military force.
As in the case of Afghanistan and Iraq, a more assertive and active European foreign policy may make the continent a more attractive target for international terrorist groups. Several European countries, such as the United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy, have already been threatened on numerous occasions by Al Qaeda-linked groups for their involvement in military operations abroad.
Thus far, the United States seems to support an active Europe participating in global counter terrorism efforts, humanitarian missions, peacekeeping operations, and stabilization efforts. If defense spending trends continue, we are likely to see several European countries, especially western states, more active in global conflicts.
