News Feed

Germany should reduce reliance on US arms amid geopolitical shifts, Airbus Defense and Space CEO says

2 min read
Germany should reduce reliance on US arms amid geopolitical shifts, Airbus Defense and Space CEO says
Michael Schoellhorn, the chief executive officer of Airbus SE Defence and Space, speaks at the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Economy Forum in Berlin, Germany, on May 23, 2023. (Krisztian / Getty Images)

Germany should reduce its dependence on U.S. defense manufacturers amid shifting political signals from Washington, the CEO of Airbus Defense and Space, Michael Schollhorn, warned in an interview with Augsburger Allgemeine, published on March 7.

Schollhorn emphasized that Berlin should prioritize European defense companies, particularly as Germany's likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has announced plans to raise hundreds of billions of euros for defense and infrastructure.

"If we continue to buy off-the-shelf products from the United States with this higher defense spending, we are cementing our dependence on others," Schollhorn said.

The business executive added that Denmark may already realize that purchasing U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets was a questionable decision, mainly "if they actually had to defend Greenland."

Schollhorn's remarks follow U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial statement on March 4, in which he once again expressed interest in acquiring Greenland through purchase or force.

Schollhorn argued that Europe's defense industries must collaborate more closely instead of competing individually.

"We need not only an increase in defense spending at the national level but also a coordinated approach among key European countries," he said.

The comments come amid growing scrutiny of Trump's foreign policy, as the U.S. president has echoed Kremlin narratives, sidelined Kyiv and Europe in direct talks with Moscow, and accused President Volodymyr Zelensky of prolonging Russia's war.

On March 6, Trump also cast doubt on Washington's commitment to defending its NATO partners, saying that the U.S. will not protect those that fail to meet defense spending targets.

During a meeting with Zelensky on Feb. 28, Trump said that Europe should take responsibility for Ukraine's security and refused to offer U.S. guarantees.

Washington has since frozen all military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, a move widely seen as an attempt to pressure Kyiv into negotiations with Moscow.

Maxar Technologies reportedly restricts Ukraine’s access to satellite imagery
Kyiv has relied on high-resolution satellite images for defense and strategic planning, tracking Russian troop movements, assessing battlefield conditions, and monitoring Russian infrastructure damage.
Article image
Avatar
Tim Zadorozhnyy

News Editor

Tim Zadorozhnyy is a news editor at The Kyiv Independent. Based in Warsaw, he is pursuing studies in International Relations, focusing on European Studies. Tim began his career at a local television channel in Odesa. After moving to Warsaw, he joined the Belarusian opposition media outlet NEXTA, starting as a news anchor and later advancing to the position of managing editor.

Read more
News Feed

The Vatican confirmed that Pope Leo received Metropolitan Anthony, the senior Russian Orthodox Church cleric who chairs its department of external church relations, along with five other high-profile clerics, during a morning audience on July 26.

 (Updated:  )

Explosions rocked Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts as Russia launched waves of missiles, drones, and guided aerial bombs overnight on July 26. Kharkiv's Kyviskyi district has been hit twice by ballistic missiles.

Show More