James Copnall, presenter of BBC Newsday, speaks to Andrius
Kubilius, EU Commissioner for Defence and Space, about the need
for Europe to be able to defend itself.
In an interview recorded before the Nato summit on 24/25 June
2025, Mr Kubilius, a former Prime Minister of Lithuania, says
peace in Europe cannot be taken for granted and that Europe can
no longer rely on American military backing. Therefore, defence
readiness must be a priority, meaning increased spending
commitments from Nato members, and a unified, quick and clear
approach across Europe to building defence capabilities. This, he
believes, is the only way to deter the threat of further Russian
aggression.
But some Nato member states may struggle to meet the proposed
increased spending target of 3.5% of GDP on defence. A few still
haven’t met the current goal of 2%, set more than a decade ago.
However, other European nations are already boosting spending to
5% including countries living in close proximity to Russia, such
as Poland, Estonia and Lithuania.
Overall, Europe still only accounts for 30% of Nato's total
military spending, a figure that has prompted US President Trump
to demand a much greater contribution from European members. The
Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world,
from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC. You
can listen on the BBC World Service, Mondays and Wednesdays at
0700 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out
twice a week on BBC Sounds, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Presenter: James Copnall Producers: Lucy Sheppard, Ben Cooper and
Owen Clegg Editor: Nick Holland
Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the
hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.
(Image: Andrius Kubilius. Credit: John
Thys/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
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