One of the many interesting discussions held at the Internationalist Camp of NEDA (New Internationalist Left- the ISp affiliate in Cyprus) focused on the issue of armaments, and how they are linked to the new wave of authoritarianism and the erosion of democratic rights within Western “democracies.” Below, we present the opening remarks delivered by comrade Marina Karpasia.
In the course of the last couple of years we see a persistent trend of repression of movements in general, and particularly the criminalization of marches and actions in support of Palestine. The massive and spontaneous participation of millions, in mobilizations around the world, in many countries in Europe and in the USA, was accompanied by brutal repression and at the same time by enormous demagogy for the “right of Israel to defend itself when its sovereign rights are threatened” and with a massive propaganda that the protests against the genocide were “anti-Semitic”. This was the alibi that the US and the EU tried to use for their shameless support to Israel, for the supply of military equipment to it and for giving it a free hand to murder at least 70,000 (probably these figures grossly underestimate reality) Palestinian people.
The US remains the largest arms supplier to Israel, with 69% of Israel’s arms imports in 2023 coming from the US, while Germany was the second largest, providing 30% (Italy with 0.9%, while the UK, France have smaller deliveries).
Of course, there was a precedent – the supply of weapons and financial assistance to Ukraine, when the war with Russia broke out.
In the past 3 years Europe’s expenditure on supporting Ukraine reached 132 billion euros, according to a report by the European Parliament; and with the programs already approved for Ukraine in the coming years, the total amount will reach 177 billion euros.
Approximately 62 billion euros concern military equipment (an amount similar to that of the US) and the rest go to “economic stability” (€70 billion by the EU and €50 billion by the US).
Additional pressure for increased defense spending also comes from NATO – with Trump demanding that the “allies” increase their spending initially to 2% and then to 5% of GDP.
The justification for the continued funding of Ukraine’s military machine is based on the supposed “potential” threat of war from Russia, and the supposed threat of nuclear war from Russia, China and North Korea.
The EU leaders are trying to create an atmosphere of panic and uncertainty in the population at large. Reproducing fears of a cold war that could turn into a hot one, with some countries (e.g. Switzerland) going as far as to create shelters in the event of war. All of this has been used to justify the “Rearm Europe” program, presented to the European Parliament and voted with a large (63%) majority in March 2025[[1]]. This program foresees spending 800 billion euros on EU “defense”, which is mainly intended for the production and purchase of advanced weapons systems.
The program has 5 pillars
- Security Action for Europe (SAFE) – A new financial instrument
- Boosting national defense funding
- Making EU institutions more flexible to allow for greater defense investment
- “Assistance” from the European Investment Bank
- Mobilizing private capital
One of the most important things about all this is the EU’s decision on fiscal flexibility, thus giving the green light for massive investments in military equipment. Not only that, on 26/11/25 the Commission proposed the “Military Schengen Zone”, for rapid troop movements within 72 hours. It also promotes the creation of a Digital Information System for Military Mobility and the establishment of a Military Mobility Transport Group.
Cyprus
It was no surprise that there was an enthusiastic response by the (Greek Cypriot) ruling class in Cyprus. On November 11–12, 2025, an international conference entitled “Cyprus National Guard Digital Transformation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence War” was held, under the auspices of the Ministry of Defense and with the participation of private companies. Among them was the Israeli Rafael, which supplies weapons used for the genocide in Gaza, and the Israel Shipyards.
Also, a few months ago, the president of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides suddenly announced the plan of voluntary service for women in the Cypriot army, supposedly in the context of… gender equality. Their enlistment would be accompanied by incentives such as aid for studies, strengthening their CV, etc. We were very pleased to see that only 2 were enlisted!
At the same time, on 30/11/2025 the Cyprus government prepared a list of military expenditures to submit to Brussels with the Minister of Defense happily stating that:
“…. we will be able to raise funds from the amount that has been approved for us, which is 1 billion 200 million euros, so that we can proceed with the utilization of these funds to strengthen our defensive armor within the framework of Europe’s announcements to arm ourselves through the SAFE program”. He added: “on the occasion, if you like, of the main event that has occurred in recent years, which is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine”. However, he clarified that “since the Republic of Cyprus is a peaceful country, the armaments concern deterrent power and defensive armor, whatever the term defensive armor includes”.
Militarizing societies
“Rearm Europe” and “Common Security and Defense Policy” adopted by the European Parliament is not only about armaments but also includes and calls on
“…the EU and its Member States to develop awareness-raising and education programs, in particular for young people, with the aim of improving knowledge and facilitating the debate on security, defense and the importance of armed forces, as well as strengthening the resilience and preparedness of societies in order to face security challenges.”
This practically means militarization of education –schools and universities– within the context of a broader militarization of society, including workplaces. And it is already being implemented in countries such as Germany, Italy, Britain, France and Greece. (Recently in Greece there was also persecution of teachers who did not cooperate with the program to nurture the “Military spirit”.)
For example, in half of the German states there are partnerships between schools and the armed forces (the military visit schools and intervenes in the curriculum and teacher training). Germany has been officially reprimanded by the UN for initiatives by the Bundeswehr (“which are specifically aimed at children”). Nevertheless, in the last five years the Bundeswehr has recruited almost 8,000 underage boys and girls –almost 20,000 17-year-olds since 2011– and trained them in the use of weapons.
BAE Systems in Britain, which has sold more than £20 billion (about 23 bn euros) worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia’s armed forces for the war in Yemen, writes on its website:
“We visit over 100 schools each year to explain who we are and why science lessons are so important.”
In Italy the cultivation of the “Military spirit” extends beyond education to work: for example, “Federsicurezza”, the association of private insurance companies, has concluded an agreement with the Ministry of Defense to:
“…exploit the skills acquired by soldiers during their deployment on national and international missions”
by recruiting them. Confidustria, the largest employers’ association, has done the same with the Abruzzo military academy, because, as its president explains,
“they are people who have particular skills, such as discipline and teamwork”.
The “military spirit” promoted by the EU gives the Far Right and the fascists fertile ground. They prepare the ground for war and provide an opportunity for warmongering statements that are of course extremely dangerous. In recent statements, Kyriakos Velopoulos of the “Hellenic Solution” in Greece showed once again how dangerous the Far Right can be. He said that in the event that his party comes to power, one of the first things he will do will be to extend Greek territorial waters to 12 nautical miles and declare an EEZ with Cyprus. In response to the journalist’s question about what will happen with Turkey (which considers the above actions to be a “cause for war”), he replied that “if we need to go to war, there is no problem, because we have a powerful army”.
At the same time, the German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that “this may have been Europe’s last peaceful summer,” as he promoted the idea that Russia could have enough military power to target NATO member states before 2029.
Fight back
The questions that we all need to consider are: who will handle all these weapons? Against whom will they use them? Who will demonstrate the “necessary spirit of self-sacrifice” that the Greek Minister of Defense, Nikos Dendias, referred to while speaking at the Athens Security Forum? Who will be the next victims after Palestine, Ukraine, Sudan, Yemen, etc?
All of this talk about self-sacrifice is directed towards us and our sons and daughters. We will be the victims of their militarization.
That’s why we need a strong anti-militarist and antiwar movement that will demand that all these billions instead of being invested in wars and the military industry, be invested in social benefits, jobs, wages, pensions, the environment, housing programs, health, education.
All of this is a result of the crisis ridden capitalist system that aims to accumulate profit at the expense of workers and all the oppressed layers.
That is why we say NO:
- To more money for armaments
- To the spread of militarism
We say YES to:
- Money for social needs, public investments and jobs
- Increases in wages and pensions
- Drastic reduction of VAT on basic necessities
- Heavy taxation of wealth, not of the working people
- Renewable energy sources
- Public social housing programs for everybody
- A developed social system, investments in Education, Health and the welfare state
- Struggle against the capitalists and their system
[1]The resolution was adopted with 419 votes in favor, 204 against and 46 abstentions.
