FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The main source of instability for Europe comes from Russia
As we head towards the NATO summit in The Hague, turmoil is all around us: war is breaking out, norms are eroding, and old certainties are being questioned. In these trying times, Germany and France, together with our European and transatlantic friends and allies, stand united and strong, to defend our shared values, as well as the freedom and security of our citizens.
The main source of instability for Europe comes from Russia, which has waged an imperialist war, with the invasion of Georgia in 2008, then of Crimea and Donbas in 2014, and then of all of Ukraine in 2022. Vladimir Putin’s objective is to undermine European security in Moscow’s favor. There is a methodical effort on the part of Russia to exercise coercive tutelage over its neighbors, to seek to destabilize European countries, and to challenge the global order. We cannot accept this, because our goal is to protect and preserve peace on our continent.
As long as this current trajectory continues, Russia will find in France and Germany an unwavering resolve. What is at stake will determine European stability for decades to come.
At the NATO summit, France and Germany will reaffirm their support for US efforts to end the war, with a strong and lasting peace, while preserving Ukraine's sovereignty and our security. We will emphasize, in particular, the urgent need for a ceasefire, backed by a determination to increase pressure on Russia, including through sanctions. We will ensure that Ukraine emerges from this war prosperous, strong and secure, never again living in fear of Russian aggression.
Much has already been done. The EU, its member states and the UK have provided Kiev with €130 billion in support. Together we have condemned and sanctioned Russia. There is still more to do. We will increase our support for Ukraine’s armed forces. We will collectively invest in Ukraine’s defence industry. Furthermore, we will, in coordination with the UK, ensure that Ukraine’s future army is large enough and equipped to deter any new invasion.
But our responsibility goes beyond Ukraine. We will live for the foreseeable future in a deeply destabilized environment and in a world in which our allies will have other dilemmas and priorities. Beyond Russia, we will still have many challenges to face, from terrorism to protecting our territories, citizens, and interests around the globe. We will have to respond to these challenges. Not because anyone asks us to, but because we are clear and we owe it to our citizens to do so.
France and Germany now spend more than 2 percent of their GDP on defense. We will go beyond that, with the ultimate goal of reaching 3.5 percent in core defense spending and 1.5 percent in broader spending contributing to the defense effort. This will be our way of strengthening NATO’s European pillar.
French and German forces are already deployed on the eastern flank of Europe, as “framework nations” in Lithuania and Romania. Our troops make important contributions in Poland and Estonia, in the Baltic and Mediterranean seas, and in European airspace, supporting the alliance’s intelligence, space, and cyber operations.
Additional spending will allow us to fill the gaps in military capabilities in the face of a revisionist Russia. We will work alongside all Allies to maintain the credibility of our position in all areas. Nuclear deterrence will remain the cornerstone of the alliance’s security. France’s independent strategic nuclear forces contribute significantly to NATO’s overall security; and Germany contributes to the alliance’s nuclear arms-sharing agreements. In addition, we will work towards a reform of our procurement systems by implementing the “three Ss”: standardization, simplification and scalability.
We will also work to ensure good cooperation between the EU and NATO. A stronger and more capable European defence contributes positively to global and transatlantic security and is both complementary and interoperable with NATO. This is vital to fill critical capability gaps through industrial investment at European level and to maintain our technological edge.
In short, showing unity against all threats, offering support to Ukraine and declaring our determination to develop European defence capabilities and our industrial base through increased defence spending and investment are all part of the same equation. We unequivocally reaffirm allied unity, allied solidarity and a commitment to the freedom, peace and security of our continent. / Adapted from "Pamphlet" by "Financial Times"
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