“An authoritative American magazine described what Ukraine’s first concrete steps in NATO might be.”, — write: www.unian.ua
An authoritative American magazine described what Ukraine’s first concrete steps in NATO might be.
Ukraine is already becoming one of the strongest sides of Europe’s collective security / UNIAN collage, photo General Staff, ua.depositphotos.comThe security system in Europe is being rebuilt in an accelerated manner and in real time. The process was accelerated by Russia’s war against Ukraine and the return of US President Donald Trump to the White House, which called into question the basic principles on which Europe’s collective security rested. As Foreign Policy writes, Europe was simultaneously threatened by Russia and lost the United States as its main security guarantor.
Meanwhile, the authors write, Russia is actively rearming and restoring the combat capability of its troops, continuing the war against Ukraine.
“The Kremlin already sees itself as at war with Europe, although this is manifested mainly through so-called hybrid attacks across the continent. Russia has switched to a military economy, on which today it spends about 40 percent of the budget. The goal is to create an army of 2.38 million people, of which 1.5 million should be active servicemen. Moscow produces 1,500 tanks a year, produces ammunition for three months more than NATO in a year, and claims to have successfully tested a cruise missile with a nuclear engine,” the newspaper writes.
They ask the question, what can Europe do in a situation where Russia is probably preparing to attack, and the US no longer “covers its back”. And they answer him:
“Europe needs to include Ukraine in its own security system. Battle-hardened, experienced and deeply motivated to resist Russian aggression, Ukraine should not be seen only as a recipient of military aid. It has the potential to become one of the most important security providers – perhaps the most important – for the rest of Europe, especially as the US withdraws from the continent.”
In practice, the authors believe, Ukraine is already an important guarantor of European security and protects the entire European continent. They explain that Ukraine weakens Russia, binds its forces and serves as a forward line of defense for NATO allies. And such resistance of Ukraine transforms Europe’s very idea of collective defense.
“Today, the main question is how to formalize and consolidate this role of Ukraine in the broader European security architecture,” the article says.
It is noted that the Ukrainian army is the second largest army in Europe after Russia. These are about 900,000 servicemen who “have been performing NATO’s main task – defense against Russian aggression – since 2014.” At the same time, the Ukrainian troops understand better than anyone the nature of the modern Russian war and the new reality – the war of drones.
“Ukraine’s experience in combating drones is already helping NATO countries on the front line. And the Ukrainian military knows how to use NATO weapons better than NATO itself. Working with a diverse set of Western systems, they know exactly what is effective on the front. They had to look for practical solutions and workarounds when NATO weapons turned out to be less effective than expected. Ukraine is rapidly developing its own defense industry, specially oriented to confront Russia,” the authors write.
The article also mentions that the special role of Ukraine in ensuring the security of Europe can be ensured by a security pact between Ukraine and the Baltic states, since the vulnerability of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania is obvious at the moment.
“These countries are the most exposed part of NATO’s eastern flank, which is constantly subjected to hybrid attacks from Russia,” the authors of the article added.
They suggested that Ukraine could undertake to send its troops for the joint defense of the Baltic States together with NATO. Such a pact, it is assumed, could provide for the supply of weapons, ammunition, logistical support and the exchange of intelligence. And a separate agreement with Poland would ensure the transit of Ukrainian troops and equipment to the Baltic countries.
“After the end or stabilization of the current war, Ukrainian units could be stationed in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania next to NATO troops. Ukrainian military personnel with combat experience could train and train the Baltic forces. The Swedish island base of Gotland could also be used to house Ukrainian troops and store weapons,” the article says.
And Ukraine, within the framework of the pact, could retain the right to attack Russia directly if it attacks one of the Baltic countries. This will certainly cause controversy, but “will not differ from the principle of collective defense enshrined in Article 5 of NATO.”
Reducing the American presence in EuropeWe will remind that it became known from the mass media that the USA is reducing the number of its military in several countries of Eastern Europe. They will take troops from Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia.
In Romania, it has already been commented that the place of American soldiers will be taken by servicemen of NATO countries. In addition, the country will strengthen its own air defense, in particular, it will build a factory for the production of drones together with Ukraine.
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