Europe calls for increased defense spending.

European Council President Donald Tusk yesterday called on European leaders to increase defense spending due to major security changes in the region.

European Council President Donald Tusk held a press conference at the council's headquarters after concluding a summit with European Union leaders in Brussels, Belgium, yesterday. Photo: Reuters.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg joined 28 European Union (EU) leaders to discuss "new dangers in Europe at a time of hybrid warfare, global terrorism and cyberattacks," Reuters quoted European Council President Donald Tusk as saying at the summit in Brussels, Belgium.

"Europe must invest in defense to respond to the dramatically changing security environment," he said at a press conference following the session.

Many European countries have cut defense spending since the 2008 financial crisis. This has led the US and NATO to worry about the weakening of Europe's military capabilities, especially at a time when tensions between the West and Russia are high.

Reduced spending is also affecting European defense companies, forcing them to cut research funding and increasing concerns about losing competitiveness in the future.

Mr. Stoltenberg's presence demonstrates the level of coordination between NATO and the EU in dealing with so-called "hybrid" warfare. This term refers to unusual "attack" techniques such as cyber intrusion, economic pressure, or recruitment through propaganda and social media by extremist Islamic militants.

The EU has deployed numerous military missions, from training soldiers in Somalia to a new initiative to combat illegal immigration from Libya. However, the EU believes the union has not yet received sufficient recognition for these efforts.

According to vnexpress