This was stated by secretary Mark Rutte to limit the need for the protection of the USA. The nuclear node remains, with France the only holder among the EU countries. The industry announces investments and hires. Waiting for the Paris Lebourget International Exhibition.
“NATO members must increase their aerial and missile defenses by 400% to counter the Russian threat” said it yesterday, Monday 9 June, the general secretary Mark Rutte specifying that the alliance “must make a qualitative leap in collective defense to face growing instability and threats”.
Rutte will meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer Before the born summit to be held in the Netherlands on 24 and 25 June, when the Nord Atlantic alliance is committed to facing a strong increase in military spending. Like other NATO members, the United Kingdom has re -evaluated its expenditure for the defense after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and Premier Starmer undertook to reach 2.5% of the gross domestic product by 2027 and 3% by 2034.
Recall that, at the moment, 22 of the 32 member countries reach or exceed the current NATO goal of 2%. Rutte, in line with other representatives of European defense dicasteries, such as the Italian Guido Crosetto, proposed a 3.5% objective for military spending and another 1.5% for the expenses defined “indirectly related to defense” such as those for infrastructures. However, a percentage still far from that of 5% requested by the President of the United States Donald Trump, who for a long time has questioned the value of NATO and has complained that the United States provide safety for European countries that do not contribute enough.
Rutte is very clear in its belief that in Ukraine we are witnessing how Russia spreads terror from above and for this reason it is necessary to strengthen “the shield that protects our skies. The illusions, “says Rutte” will not keep us safe, we cannot ignore the danger. Hope is not a strategy, so NATO must become a stronger, fair and lethal alliance. “According to Rutte, thousands of more armored vehicles are needed and millions of artillery bullets, in addition to the feared 400% increase in air and missile defense.
Last week the government of the United Kingdom declared that it would build new attacking submarines with nuclear propulsion, Prepared his army to fight a war in Europe, transforming himself into a “ready -to -combat” nation. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also announced the birth of six new centers for the production of ammunition and a new command center for the defense of cybernetic and electronic attacks. Although the expenditure for the defense of the United Kingdom will increase to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, compared to the previous 2.3%, with the ambition to reach 3% in the next legislature if the economic and tax conditions allow it.
Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS, the British Association of the aerospace and defense industry, said that the review is showing that the Ministry of Defense has a plan deemed “valid and effective”explaining, however, that “as with all initiatives of this type, what really matters is its realization and the resources to finance it”. Even Clive Higgins, president and CEO of Leonardo Uk, expressed a favorable opinion on the plan, however remembering: “Of course, words so strong by the government must be supported by equally incisive actions. The defense investment plan must be adequately financed to guarantee innovation at a rhythm for a war”. Charles Woodburn, number one of Bae Systems, said: “We welcome the revision, including the government’s commitment to achieve the greater increase in the expenditure for the defense since the time of the Cold War, the industry can now invest in production with the certainty that the British government will acquire its products.
This clear signal gives our sector the trust necessary to invest in the increase in production capacity, In promoting the efficiency and development of cutting -edge technologies to meet the constantly evolving requirements necessary for the United Kingdom and our allies, while stimulating economic growth through exports and the creation of thousands of highly qualified jobs across the country “. A position to which Phil Siveter, CEO of Thales UK, also agrees. Unforeseen, the war between Russia and Ukraine should end.
Meanwhile, on June 16, the aerospace saone of Lebourget (Paris) will begin, during which it will be essential to understand what the activities of large defense groups will be Starting with the US ones such as Boeing, who in the United Kingdom has the Sheffield plant. The Parisian “Salon” has always been the showcase of French ambitions, however it has also been the most open to the exhibitions of the manufacturers of the East for years, obviously including Russia. It will be a unique stage during which Europe, primarily with Airbus Defense, will have to show what is doing to reduce its dependence on the protection of Uncle Sam, deciding, for example, if among the EU countries only France should continue to have a nuclear deterrent independent of Washington.
