European defense leaders are meeting in Paris this week to discuss their plans for providing security guarantees to Ukraine as the continent has moved after decades of relying on the United States.
French President Emmanuel Macron led it after a Tuesday gathering of Defense Chiefs from 30 European and NATO countries following a new “United States First” policy guidance to European residents.
Macron said it was time to “move towards planning” and told the French newspaper Le Fogaro that France would increase its defense spending from 2 percent to 3.5 percent of GDP, worth about $ € 30 billion annually.
The details of any peace army are still widely available in the flow, but some officials say a target Deturns Force is expected to be aimed at protecting key infrastructure rather than widespread blockade of the front lines.
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Prior to a meeting in Paris, French President Emmanuel Macron handed over the European Union and the NATO army chief of staff. (Reuters/Sarah Missinner/Pool)
European residents were intimidated last week when the United States announced that it would stop all aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, but Ukraine ended the pause on Tuesday after a 30 -day ceasefire. All eyes are now on Russia whether Russian President Vladimir Putin accepts the deal, which came after a US broker in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
The United States has insisted that it is the responsibility of Europe to offer military resources to help Russia stop Russia, when once the ceasefire reaches once again. President Donald Trump has touched the idea of not protecting European countries under Article 5 of NATO if he refuses to fulfill his defense spending responsibilities under the agreement.
The new call to defend Europe was a welcome development for the eastern part of NATO, where small nations have defeated their major European counterparts in defense spending as a percentage of their GDP.
“We should not panic [Trump statements]”The Chairman of the National Security Committee of the Lithuanian Parliament, Gedrome, said Jaglinskas.
“European residents need to think about what kind of troops should be kept in Ukraine,” he told Fox News Digital. “European residents need to keep the most [our security] Now we need to have a good desire. Next to the good will, you need to show the number. How many troops can we develop, what kind of troops can we develop, what help do we need from the United States?
Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Walts spoke after Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire in Saudi Arabia. (Saul Louib/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)
On February 26, Trump said in his first cabinet meeting, “I will not provide too much security guarantees.” We are going to do this to Europe. “
A French military official told the Associate Press that the United States – the most powerful member of the United States – was not invited to Paris’s talks because European countries want to show that they are able to shoulder a large part of Ukraine’s security once after a war.
But Jaglinskas said Europe should be aware of US demands to defend more in its defense because it needs the United States for air defense such as Patriot missiles.
“People who are complaining about the United States – this is an abundance in Europe – yes, show me an alternative. There is nothing.”
At the end of the week, Trump’s top adviser, Elon Musk, posted on the X that the United States should leave NATO. He wrote, “For the United States, there is no meaning for European defense.”
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“This is a common sense,” Trump told reporters of the NATO coalition last week. ” “If they do not pay, I will not defend them. No, I will not defend them.”
In his meetings behind closed doors, US officials have expressed America’s commitment to Article 5, “said Jaglinskas.
“Sometimes Trump moves to hold people to reality,” said Jonathan Boss, foreign affairs expert and CEO of Argentina LNG. “The fact is that he went to the extent that he considered crazy, [the Europeans] In fact, he took it seriously and did what he needed to do. “
Europe met to discuss security guarantees as Ukrainian President Waldimier Zillsky agreed on a ceasefire. (Victor Coolchuk/World Photos by Ukraine Via Images)
Lithuania is currently spending 4 % on defense and intends to reach 5-6 % next year, which is why Defense Minister Devil Okalin told reporters that his nation has made “at least $ 8 billion” in the coming years to promote defense.
“Russian aggression that can go beyond Ukraine, including the Baltic states like Lithuania,” bothers us, ”he said. “
“That’s why we are really moving forward with our military capacity plans with our military capabilities, from weapons to ammunition, construction factories, defense industries, with our defense capabilities, infrastructure and personnel and acquisitions.”
Europe has offered about $ 139 billion in aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the war, while the United States has offered about $ 128 billion.
But the European Union last week proposed a $ 841 billion plan for the “European Reim”, which included a $ 158 billion emergency debt proposal to armed European capabilities in weak areas like air defense and ammunition. The project also calls for restraint of strict loan roofs by block for defense spending.
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“It’s a moment for Europe, and we’re ready to move forward,” European Commissioner Ersula Van Der Leene said last week.
“Strengthening the northeastern parts of Europe” was a common goal, which means that Russia has to set a hypersonic missile in the Baltic states like Lithuania, Acne said.
The Associated Press cooperated in this report.
