Defense investments in the EU 2005-2023

Investments in military defense have increased rapidly since 2014, during which time they more than doubled, reaching 72 billion euros in 2023. The security situation in Europe has deteriorated in recent years, with tensions growing between the EU member states, a majority of whom are members of NATO, and Russia, the largest non-EU military power on the continent.

The Russian-Ukraine conflict has led to rapidly increasing investments in military technology and hardware in the European Union, particularly considering the large amount of military aid sent to Ukraine.

The 72 billion Euros spent by member states in 2023 represented 26 percent of the EU's total defense spending, which reached 278 billion euros in the year. Within this investment spending, member states prioritized the procurement of military equipment, rather than research and development, which reflects the destabilized geopolitical situation on the European continent.