Defence shortages create ‘temptation for Putin to test us’: EU Defence Commissioner Kubilius

The EU has just launched an ambitious-sounding defence plan, “ReArmEU”, and it is also publishing a landmark white paper on defence. The person at the heart of these initiatives is our guest on the programme; Andrius Kubilius is the EU Commissioner in charge of defence and space. A Lithuanian conservative who was twice prime minister of his country, he started this crucial job – the first time such a portfolio has been created at the Commission – in early December. But questions remain about the financing of ReArmEU – which would cost 800 billion euros – and on how exactly to incentivise the production of military hardware on European soil.