Europe’s NATO allies are facing a shortage of air defense systems, says Striniger

• Commander of NATO’s air defense forces, John Stringer, said that European allies have relied on US air defense systems, which the US has not been able to provide for Europe’s air defense plans.
• According to NATO allies, their alliance’s countries are unable to meet the required level of defense capabilities, citing the words of John Stringer, who said that this logic is based on “the fact that the US has not been able to provide for Europe’s air defense plans.”
• In the materials it is stated that NATO’s European allies need 3.5% of GDP by 2035 to implement the plan to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense.

Europe’s NATO allies, according to the NATO commander, said that the US has been providing the air defense capabilities of NATO in Europe, and that the US has not been able to provide for Europe’s air defense plans. The commander explained that this would be the reason for the lack of air defense systems.

Stringer said that European allies “have been relying on the US” for years. “We can’t rely on the US anymore,” he said.

According to Stringer, NATO countries should not wait until the US provides them with air defense systems. “If the US is no longer able to provide air defense systems, then Europe must invest in its own capabilities,” he said. He also said that all 32 NATO countries would need to spend 3.5% of GDP by 2035 to meet the requirements.

Materials also note that NATO is expected to develop its capabilities, including in view of the UK’s involvement.

According to Politico, Europe’s defense spending is already increasing, but the pace of spending is not enough to meet the targets, and the need to increase spending is being discussed in connection with the US. The article also notes that the US is unlikely to increase its defense spending in Europe.

In an interview with DW, the report says that NATO’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in particular, said that the alliance’s countries should increase spending on defense. DW also cites AFP, saying that European countries plan to spend 70 billion euros on defense this year.

Tags: Europe/Politics