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- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Europe needed to create weapons ‘urgently’
- A major arms manufacturer said it would take 10 years for Europe to be ready.
- Republican front-runner Donald Trump encouraged Russia to join NATO
Days after President Donald Trump encouraged Russia to attack NATO members, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Europe was “devoid of large amounts of weapons” because we were no longer “living in times of peace.” He warned that there was an “urgent” need to increase production.
Scholz became the continent’s latest leader to push for increased defense spending, following comments by the presidential candidates from the leaders of France and Poland calling for stronger defense ties between EU countries.
Scholz, 65, spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony for a new munitions factory in Unterluss run by German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall, warning that European countries needed to pool their money. Orders and financing to provide the defense industry with purchase security for decades to come.
“This is urgently needed because of the painful reality that we do not live in times of peace,” he said, referring to Russia’s war against Ukraine. “Those who want peace must successfully deter the aggressor. We have to be able to do it,” he added.
Rheinmetall boss Armin Pappelger told the BBC that current ammunition stocks across the continent were “empty” as many countries had provided ammunition to Ukraine for its own defense, and that Europe He said it would take at least 10 years to be able to fully defend the country. Russia for the past two years.
Before Russia invaded Ukraine, Germany had shied away from defense duties for decades, burdened by its ultra-militaristic past and the critical role it had played in the early 20th century.
However, the invasion changed Germany’s post-World War II pacifist policy, and it has since become Ukraine’s second-largest arms supplier.
Germany and other European countries this week pledged to increase defense spending and develop military ties between the two countries.
Yesterday, the governments of Poland, France and Germany pledged to strengthen mutual relations.
Donald Tusk, the current president of Poland and former EU president, told reporters in Paris that he had a direct rebuttal to Russia, saying, “We are so obviously weaker militarily than Russia, yet we are increasing production.” There is no reason why we should strengthen cooperation.” These are absolutely undisputed priorities. ”
Tusk, 66, also referenced Alexander Dumas’ classic “The Three Musketeers” when discussing the relationship between the European Union, which is primarily an economic bloc, and NATO, which is primarily a defense agreement between nations. He said the relationship is based on the principle of “one for all and all for one.”
A continent-wide diplomatic push follows. Former US President Donald Trump, currently the leading candidate for the Republican nomination for the 2024 election, said earlier this week that he did not believe European countries were paying enough for NATO.
At a campaign rally in the US state of South Carolina, a volatile former reality TV star told leaders of Europe’s “big” powers on Saturday that they would not intervene if Russia attacked allies that were not meeting their financial obligations. He said he intended to do so.
“No, I won’t protect you. In fact, I’d encourage them to do whatever they want,” Trump told his supporters.
US President Joe Biden, who has pledged ironclad support for the alliance, condemned the comments of his leading opponent in November’s presidential election as “appalling and dangerous”.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg responded to President Trump in unusually strong terms, saying: “Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines our entire national security, including that of the United States.” .
The rant was the Republican front-runner’s most extreme and raised questions among diplomatic circles about his commitment to the collective defense umbrella of NATO, which has protected Europe since World War II.
A senior NATO diplomat, like others on condition of anonymity, called the comments “an attack on the soul of the alliance” that called into question the Article 5 pledge to defend allies if attacked.
Officials have privately acknowledged that Trump’s choice to sow doubts about U.S. commitment to NATO benefits Putin, who could turn to other European countries if Ukraine collapses. Ta.
Trump has previously been accused of collusion with Putin and has cast doubt on sending more aid to Kiev.
But multiple diplomats said that despite his outbursts, the former U.S. leader had a point when it came to spending and had actually helped strengthen NATO by increasing spending to other countries.
“It’s a worrying statement, but at the same time many allies still fall short of the minimum required 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) for defense,” said another NATO diplomat.
“The goal is clear in the current geopolitical situation, but it is not yet a reality. Europe should do more in this regard.”
Moscow’s seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 has already forced European countries to increase their defense budgets. For a full-scale invasion in 2022, NATO has turned 2 percent into a trough instead of a ceiling.
Trump’s instigation accelerated the process, but only 11 of 31 allies are projected to reach the goal in 2023, and the US still accounts for a huge portion of combined defense spending. .
“Forget the rhetoric and follow the money,” said one NATO diplomat.
Another noted that while many feared the worst during Trump’s presidency, his actions since then have resulted in the strengthening of NATO.
“He increased investment in the East, he basically increased defense investment in Europe, he was very calm at the summit, he kept the military in Europe,” the diplomat said.
“It seems like it might just be a means to get us to do more. But are there any guarantees? No.’
This is not the first time President Trump has expressed the idea of leaving the EU.
During his term, President Trump reportedly considered withdrawing the United States from the alliance, criticizing member states such as Germany for falling far short of their goal of spending 2% of GDP on defense.
However, since this commitment was made in 2014, only 11 out of 31 member states have now achieved that goal.
Of the three EU and NATO countries that met in Paris yesterday, only Poland is spending more than 2% of its commitments on defense.
The country spends 3.9% of its annual GDP on defense, while France and Germany spend 1.9% and 1.57%, respectively.
German officials have been quick to point out that they expect to reach the 2% target this year, thanks in part to a special 1 billion euro fund set up in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
But even as Germany increases its defense spending, nearly two dozen countries are falling behind on their commitments.
According to NATO statistics, Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg spent the least as a share of GDP at just 1.26%, 1.26% and 0.72% respectively.
Given Luxembourg’s much smaller size and resources compared to other NATO countries, it is not expected to meet the same requirements. Iceland, on the other hand, is not included on the list as it does not have its own military despite being a founding member of NATO.
NATO is expected to release updated figures in the coming days that will show more allies hitting the 2% target, according to people familiar with the data.
The security zone is set to expand to 32 countries in the near future, with Sweden awaiting ratification of its application amid hurdles posed by Hungary’s Viktor Orbán.
However, existing figures show that, excluding Iceland and Luxembourg, seven member states spend less than 1.5% of GDP on defense.
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