- Mark Rutte said that the NATO allies are required to submit plans for air defense.
- With a 32-year defense budget, air defense must account for 5% of the GDP: 3.5% for the defense budget, and 1.5% for the other, including for the war-related technical capabilities.
- According to the materials, this is because the Donalda Trump administration may be unable to provide the necessary support for European air defense.
In a general sense, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said after a meeting with the leaders of the alliance that “this, in particular, concerns the concrete plans” for the defense of European airspace, which will start to be implemented in the near future.
For a 32-year period, countries must increase their defense spending, with air defense accounting for 5% of GDP: 3.5% — for the defense budget, and 1.5% — for the others, meaning that the war-related technical capabilities will be financed. This is because the countries cannot agree on the conflict’s duration and the amount of air defense funding.
The materials point out that the United States is funding this, but it is stated that without NATO’s support, the alliance may not be able to cover such large air defense expenditures. It is also noted that the total of 258 million dollars for the air defense budget is higher than the annual amount.
According to the materials, the European air defense alliance is being discussed, and it is stated that “the danger is that we might have to pay for it ourselves.” NATO, meanwhile, says that by 2025 the allies will spend a total of 258 million dollars on defense, which is more than in previous years.
Without the materials, it is stated that the air defense capabilities may not be sufficient for the Donalda Trump administration. It is also noted that Trump’s administration may not be able to meet the necessary air defense requirements for NATO, which could lead to the need for European countries to cover the shortfall themselves.
At the same time, the NATO countries’ position is that the United States has already stated its view on European air defense, and that it is necessary to continue implementing the plan. It is also noted that the United States is not the only one involved, and that the allies must also contribute to the defense of European airspace. The materials also mention that the war in Ukraine is the reason for the need to increase air defense spending.