BRUSSELS – The European Union rolled out a new defense package on Wednesday to allow tanks and troops to deploy more rapidly across the many borders of the 27-nation bloc as concern mounts that Russia is already probing its defenses.

Europe’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said that spending on defense now might avert war.

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“Weakness invites them to make their move,” she said, speaking of Russia. She said if the EU increases its defensive capabilities and readiness, “then Russia will not attack because we are not weak.”

The new military mobility proposal by the EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, would invest 17.65 billion euro ($20.4 billion) into 500 hot spots from Poland to Portugal that are seen as choke-points, such as bridges, ports and tunnel

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