EU chief urges defence industry strategy focused on locally made arms

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivers her speech on security and defence at the European Parliament in Strasbourg (AP)

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for a new defence industry strategy to respond to security challenges posed by Russia’s war on Ukraine with the purchase of weapons and ammunition made in Europe at its heart.

The Russian invasion has exposed glaring weaknesses in Europe’s arms manufacturing capacities.