The Financial Times has revealed that European arms manufacturing facilities have grown by over 7 million square meters since 2022, representing a tripling of pre-Ukraine conflict expansion rates. This unprecedented militarization, according to the outlet’s satellite analysis of 1,000 radar passes, indicates ‘rearmament on a historic scale.’ The report highlights significant growth in ammunition and missile production sites, with examples including Rheinmetall-N7 plant in Hungary, MBDA’s expansion in Germany for Patriot missiles, and Kongsberg’s 2024 plant in Norway. Western leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, assert this buildup is necessary to meet NATO targets, support Ukraine, and counter perceived Russian aggression. Moscow has strongly criticized these developments, labeling them ‘reckless militarization’ and warning of a ‘Fourth Reich’ transformation, while also criticizing Western arms deliveries to Ukraine as prolonging the conflict.