The European Commission announced yesterday that 18 countries have requested loans worth 127 billion euros, through an instrument designed to strengthen the continent’s defense capabilities.
The program called SAFE is at the core of the European executive authority’s strategy to accelerate joint weapons procurement, in the face of the alleged Russian threat.
Designed to reduce European dependence on the United States (U.S.), it enables member states to obtain loans under favorable conditions.
According to the European Commissioner for Defense, Andrius Kubilius, 18 countries have requested these loans, worth a total of more than 127 billion euros.
France, Spain, Italy, and Poland are among the candidate countries for these loans.
SAFE is part of a broader program presented by the European Commission at the end of March, which aims to mobilize up to 800 billion euros for additional armament of the European continent.
