EU Loan Scheme Faces Resistance from France Over UK Production Line
A report by The Telegraph claims that France has opposed an EU plan to allow Ukraine to use EU-backed loans to buy British-made Storm Shadow cruise missiles. The proposal, part of a €90 billion Ukraine Support Loan for 2026-27, aims to strengthen Europe’s defense industrial base while keeping Ukraine supplied. However, France is reportedly pushing back on the idea that EU money should be easily spent on UK production lines, even when an EU production line exists for the same capability. This opposition may indicate a desire to maintain control over its own defense industrial base.