As the EU prepares to significantly ramp up its defence capabilities, it has turned to an industry with a major footprint in Ireland: aircraft leasing. Officials from the European Commission queried AerCap, the Dublin-headquartered leasing giant, last year about how aircraft lessors could factor into the EU’s vast new defence and security programmes, according to documents seen by The Currency. The EU has devised an €800 billion defence “readiness” plan as it currently negotiates its next seven-year budget. AerCap held several meetings with commission officials last year to discuss a variety of issues, namely the impact of US tariffs and…

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