The COVID-19 crisis will likely force the European Union to cut spending on defense, undermining the bloc’s ability to increase its military self-sufficiency and reduce its reliance on the United States. On May 12, the chief executive of the European Defence Agency, Jiri Sedivy, said the bloc will probably reduce defense spending in its budget for the 2021-2027 period as EU governments focus their resources on dealing with the economic fallout from the pandemic . The European Union must approve its next seven-year budget by the end of the year, which Brussels has promised will focus on stimulating economic growth.