2024-02-15 02:09:57
Despite growing security concerns in Europe due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, movements among European NATO members remain “slow,” according to a report published by a newspaper. The New York Times.
The report indicates that Germany had recently launched an ammunition factory, in a step to restore the depleted arsenal of artillery shells, but production will not begin for a year and will produce 50,000 rounds annually.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, for his part, called on Europe to increase its arms production to support Ukraine and prevent “possible decades of confrontation” with Moscow, in an interview published by German media on Saturday, according to Agence France-Presse.
“This means shifting from slow peacetime to producing fast-paced conflict,” he told the German newspaper Welt am Sonntag in its Sunday issue.
“We need to reshape and expand our industrial base faster, to increase supplies to Ukraine and replenish our stocks,” Stoltenberg insisted ahead of an important meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels and the second anniversary of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels on February 15, a week before the second anniversary of the Russian attack on Ukraine.
Former US President Donald Trump, although he is not currently in the White House, his statements on Saturday aroused the ire of some countries, in which he said, “He will not want to protect NATO member states from any future attack from Russia if its contributions to the alliance are delayed.” According to Reuters.
Trump made his statements on Saturday during an election rally in South Carolina, referring to a conversation he said he had with the head of a NATO country, without mentioning his name.
Trump said, “The president of a great country stood up and said, ‘Well, sir, if we don’t pay and we are attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’ I said, ‘Why do you pay? You are late in paying.’ No, I will not protect you. Rather, I will encourage them to do what they want. You have to pay.” “You have to pay your bills.”
Democratic US President Joe Biden on Tuesday described Trump’s statements as “dangerous,” “un-American,” “stupid,” and “shameful.”
Biden, 81, accused his predecessor of caving in to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He added, “Can you imagine a former president of the United States saying that? The whole world heard that. What’s worse is that he means what he says.”
He continued, “No other president in our history has bowed down to a Russian dictator. I will say it as clearly as I can: I will never do that.”
“All for one and one for all”
Growing security concerns in Europe. Archival – expressive
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a press conference accompanied by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on Monday, “NATO’s promise of protection is being implemented without reservation. All for one and one for all.”
He added, “I am absolutely certain that NATO plays a vital role for transatlantic security,” stressing everyone’s commitment to this matter, including the United States.
Schulz stated that any “relativeization of NATO’s assistance guarantees is irresponsible and dangerous and is only in Russia’s interest, and does not allow anyone to manipulate Europe’s security or make deals with it,” according to the New York Times.
“We will strengthen NATO for the security of Europe,” he said.
For his part, Polish Prime Minister Tusk responded that the words of former US President Trump were like a “cold shower,” noting that Warsaw spends 4 percent of its national product on defense.
He added, “It is clear that we in Europe should expect our partners, including those who live on the other side of the ocean, to respect this principle.”
Tusk said critically in a post on the X platform, “Dear Republican senators in America, Ronald Reagan, who helped millions of us regain freedom and independence, must be turning in his grave today. Shame on you.”
During his presidency of the United States (2017-2021), Trump criticized Washington’s allies in NATO for pressuring them to increase defense expenditures, and he credited himself with increasing spending.
Increase spending
Trump renewed his criticism of NATO members over defense spending
The Russian war on Ukraine was a wake-up call for European countries, and prompted NATO to set a target of 2 percent as a minimum for its countries’ defense spending, according to an Agence France-Presse report.
Major countries such as Germany have increased their spending and are expected to achieve the goal this year. However, the United States still represents the largest portion of NATO members’ total expenditures.
NATO Secretary-General Stoltenberg announced on Wednesday that 18 of the alliance’s 31 members are on track to achieve the target set for defense spending.
Stoltenberg presented new estimates of defense spending, which showed that the number of countries expected to achieve the goal of spending at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense will reach 18, an increase from 11 last year.
Spending in NATO
He told reporters ahead of a meeting of the bloc’s defense ministers, “This is another record number and six times more than in 2014, when only three members of the alliance fulfilled the goal.”
The Secretary-General of the Alliance did not mention which member states are fulfilling their commitment.
But overall, he said, European members and Canada have added more than $600 billion to their defense spending since setting the goal of spending at least 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense, he said. statement Journalist published by the Pentagon.
Against the backdrop of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, last year recorded an “unprecedented rise” of 11 percent in spending by European members and Canada, according to Stoltenberg.
Stoltenberg repeated his warning to Trump not to “undermine” NATO’s collective security guarantee, which is based on the fact that all members of the alliance will defend any other member if they are attacked.
He said, “We leave no room for miscalculation or misunderstanding in Moscow regarding our readiness, commitment, and determination to protect NATO members.”
Estonia warns that Russia will double the number of its forces on the border with NATO countries, according to a website report The Hill.
Concerns are growing in Europe
The United States is NATO’s largest contributor
Trump’s criticism of US allies has raised concerns among European officials about the possibility of Washington abandoning a 75-year-old alliance if he is re-elected as president later this year.
Trump later defended his statements and stressed that what he did during his term made the Western military bloc “strong.”
On Monday, Trump said in a post on his “Truth Social” social media network, “I made NATO strong, and even the fake Republicans and the far-left Democrats admit that.”
He added, “When I told the 20 countries that had not paid their fair share that they had to pay or they would not benefit from American protection, the money flowed in.”
According to the former president, these financial contributions have declined since his departure from the White House, “because I am no longer there to tell them that you have to pay.”
Trump had previously praised the Kremlin master, describing him as a “genius” and more credible than US intelligence.
Trump also previously said that, if he returned to the presidency, he would be able to put an end to the war in Ukraine within 24 hours.
“Losing protection.” A Trump advisor suggests making changes in NATO
A senior national security adviser to Donald Trump told Reuters on Tuesday that he would seek changes to NATO if the former president returns to power that could lead to some member states losing protection from foreign attack.
This comes at a time of increasing warnings that Russian President Vladimir Putin may seek to target members of the alliance if Ukraine loses the war.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said, “I think it is better not to constantly look, with anticipation and fear, at the potential Republican presidential candidate. Instead, we should carry out our duties.”
Chief of Staff of the German Army, General Carsten Breuer, said that his country’s forces must be “ready for war” within five years due to the increasing risks.
Breuer said during an interview with Die Welt newspaper published on Sunday that it is the first time since the end of the Cold War that the country faces “the possibility of a war imposed by an external party.”
Brewer added that readiness for war requires a “change of mentality” and improvement of military training and army capabilities.
His comments come as there are growing appeals from Ukraine for missiles, ammunition and other military aid.
“There is no imminent military threat against any ally. At the same time, we hear regular threats from the Kremlin against NATO countries,” Stoltenberg added.
He stressed that the Russian invasion of Ukraine about two years ago showed that “peace in Europe cannot be taken for granted,” stressing the importance of protecting NATO member states.
He continued, “As long as we invest in our security and remain united, we will continue to deter any aggression,” explaining that “NATO does not seek war with Russia, but we must prepare for decades of potential confrontation.”
He also said, “We are closely monitoring what Russia is doing and have strengthened our presence in the eastern part of the alliance,” warning that “if Putin wins in Ukraine, there is no guarantee that Russian aggression will not expand further. So supporting Ukraine now and investing in NATO’s capabilities is better.” Defend us.”
Following Trump’s statements, France said that Europe needs another “life insurance” policy in addition to NATO to ensure the continent’s security.
Stoltenberg said that the US nuclear deterrent in Europe “is working, and we must continue to ensure that it remains safe and reliable.”
Diplomats from many NATO countries stress that keeping the United States in the alliance remains essential to deterring the Russian threat. But they are not afraid of Trump’s threats, stressing that the alliance remained intact during his first presidential term.
Washington continues to support Ukraine
European aid to Ukraine worth 50 billion euros ($54 billion) – archive of Ukrainian soldiers
While the focus is on NATO’s defense spending, the pressing issue of support for Ukraine was also on the table at a meeting on Wednesday that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was absent for health reasons.
“Rest assured that the United States continues to strongly support Ukraine,” Austin said in a video message broadcast at the beginning of the meeting.
On Tuesday, the US Senate approved funding for the war effort in Ukraine, but the Republican-controlled House of Representatives is expected to reject this package.
The US Senate approves a law for an aid package for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan
On Tuesday, the Democratic-led US Senate approved a bill to provide aid worth $95 billion to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, and sent the bill to the Republican-dominated House of Representatives, where chances of its approval face difficulties, according to Reuters.
Doubts about the future of US aid come at a time when Russia is slowly advancing on the front lines.
Germany, France and 13 other NATO members signed a letter of intent to launch an air defense alliance to help strengthen Ukraine’s ability to protect itself.
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