EU - Shrinking Dependence on the US
The European Union announced a new drive to break its security dependency on the United States, with a focus on buying more defense equipment in Europe.
Under the strategy, member countries will be urged to buy much of their military equipment in Europe, working mostly with European suppliers—in some cases with EU help to cut prices and speed up orders. They should only purchase equipment from abroad when costs, performance or supply delays make it preferable.
In recent years, the 27 EU nations have placed about two-thirds of their orders with U.S. defense companies. To qualify for new loans, they would have to buy at least 65% of equipment from suppliers in the EU, Norway or Ukraine.
“The security architecture that we relied on can no longer be taken for granted,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
EU nations are also encouraged to boost security ties with NATO allies that are not members of the EU, including Britain, Canada, Norway, Australia, Japan, South Korea and India.
Andrius Kubilius, the EU’s recently appointed and first-ever defense commissioner, warned that “450 million European Union citizens should not have to depend on 340 million Americans to defend ourselves.”
-apnews.com, 19 March 2025
Arno's Commentary
One must realize that weapons of war are the foundation of the existing borders of virtually all 200-plus nations on earth. While throughout Europe, the military was once frowned upon and seen as being of little use, that changed on 24 February 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine. But even earlier, in February of 2014, Russia occupied and annexed Crimea. That, apparently, was a wake-up call for Europe. The previous declaration of Europeans, boasting to live in the freest, richest, and securest continent, is now being questioned.
It seems the Industrial Revolution is where it all began, as Europe colonized virtually the entire world. That ended more or less with the First, and decisively so with the Second World War. From that point on, the USA virtually monopolized, not only in military power, but also in manufacturing and finance as well.
One must realize that the EU presently counts 450 million citizens, and the entire European continent has about 745 million. These developments seem to indicate that Europe is reasserting its previous dominance.
Here we are reminded of Daniel’s prophecy, particularly in chapter 7, where the four world giants are enumerated and pictured with animals: The first a lion, representing Babylon; the second “like a bear,” showing the Medo-Persian Empire; the third “like a leopard,” picturing Greece; and then he says something remarkable about the fourth, not using a known animal as a symbol, but an unnamed creature:
“After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns” (Daniel 7:7).
Later, in verse 19 we read: “Then I would know the truth of the fourth beast, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet.”
Most Bible scholars identify the fourth empire as Rome. The Roman Empire ruled the world. We must add, most importantly, that Jesus was born in Bethlehem under Roman authority. He was condemned, crucified, rose on the third day and ascended into heaven 40 days later, all while Rome was ruling.
Israel had not existed for 2,000 years. Now that they are a nation to be reckoned with, we believe it’s the preparation for the return of Jesus in great power and glory.
Arno Froese is the executive director of Midnight Call Ministries and editor-in-chief of the acclaimed prophetic magazines Midnight Call and News From Israel. He has authored a number of well-received books, and has sponsored many prophecy conferences in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. His extensive travels have contributed to his keen insight into Bible prophecy, as he sees it from an international perspective.
