NATO and EU defense ministers are meeting today in Brussels, with discussions expected to focus on the Russian threat, drone issues, defense spending, Europe’s defense capabilities and support for Ukraine. Arriving at the meeting, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that the anti-drone wall in Europe is moving forward, while regarding Ukraine he mentioned that allies have already committed two billion for military equipment. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that the United States expects countries to invest more in the Purl program, a Washington-initiated initiative that allows Kiev to purchase American weapons funded by Europeans. The US expects its partners to increase their military capabilities and firepower, he told reporters.
The anti-drone “wall”
The penetration of approximately 20 Russian drones into Polish airspace in September forced NATO to shoot down three of them, something unprecedented since the Alliance’s founding in 1949. A few days later, NATO fighter jets escorted three Russian MiGs out of Estonian airspace, which they had entered and remained in for 12 minutes.
Subsequently, NATO launched Operation “Eastern Guard” aimed at strengthening surveillance of its eastern flank. However, many countries believe the Alliance should do more to improve its response to Russian provocations by adopting new measures.
In this direction, NATO is examining improving rules of engagement, providing more flexibility to its military command.
Ministers will also discuss strengthening defense and deterrence measures against repeated incursions by Russian drones or other unmanned aerial vehicles, whose origin has not been clarified.
The EU, whose defense ministers will meet this afternoon after the NATO conference, has proposed an anti-drone “wall”.
NATO supports this idea, as stated by Secretary General Mark Rutte, but this must be done in coordination with the Alliance.
Weapons for Ukraine
NATO defense ministers will also speak with their Ukrainian counterpart Denis Shmyhal during a working lunch and at the Ukraine Contact Group meeting.
This will be an opportunity for the Ukrainian minister to remind Alliance European countries of the advantages of the Purl program, a Washington-initiated initiative that allows Kiev to purchase American weapons funded by Europeans.
“This program is vital and allies must take action and do their duty now to pressure Russia to come to the negotiating table,” US NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker said yesterday.
Kiev has already received two aid installments worth approximately $2 billion, funded by the Netherlands and several Scandinavian countries.
Germany and Canada have committed to funding two more installments of $500 million each, and Kiev hopes two additional installments will be finalized soon.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump is considering allowing Ukraine to acquire longer-range Tomahawk missiles and is set to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday.
No announcement on this issue is expected today, but “the possibility of strikes deep into Russian territory could force (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to reconsider his calculations,” because “it would endanger (…) significant energy infrastructure inside Russia,” Whitaker estimated.
With information from APE-MPE
