Austria will be slow to change neutrality stance

Significance

Such investment will be spread across key areas including aviation, cyber and ground warfare. Increased defence spending does not point to changes on Austria's policy of neutrality, which the government has repeatedly said is not up for debate.

Impacts

• Strengthening defence against cyber attacks will be a key priority for the new investments.
• Future defence equipment will likely be sourced from a combination of suppliers within the EU and in Israel and the United States.
• Support for EU sanctions against Russia may change if the far-right Freedom Party wins the next election -- which is possible