To rephrase: Arms dealer upset they got less arms sale.
This. I’m an American behind Ukraine 100%, but let’s keep it real. The MIC in the U.S. is about profits first, people second.
The “art of the deal” man really didn’t know what he was doing when he undermined NATO. This was the real wake up call to Europe that the US couldn’t be relied upon and that while alliances after fine, we really need to step up our military game, and part of that is to make sure we have our own equipment.
We should work tighter together and reduce waste by focusing on one model of tank, one or two IFV, etc instead of the large number we have now, mainly due to national interests.
I say start building an EU army, but start from the ground and build the whole chain, with focus on EU supplied equipment.
You should have at least two different tank models. Not 20 but one is too small and you risk a flaw being a problem for everything
I mean MBTs. How many do we have in Europe? 5? 6?
The Americans have one. The Abrahams.
I don’t know, I know Germany has a tank, UK has a tank, and Poland is building the Korean tank. I’m not aware of others, but I wouldn’t be surprised if you are right. I agree 5 is too many, 2-3 is a good number, enough that nobody gets stuck on a bad design. Not so many that scale (which is already low on a tank until we are at war and need many) can’t happen at all.
Italy has the Ariete and France the Leclerc. I think there are a few in eastern Europe as well, but that might be modified Russian tanks. Not sure about those, sorry guys.
My point is that it’s far too many. 2 max, and that’s stretching it. If the US can manage with one, so can we.
With Trump or whatever Ghoul that comes after him in the Republican party looming, it is crucial for the EU to gain strategic independence.
While there were some impulses during Trumps first presidency it seems things had slowed down during Bidens term. Especially Scholz having blocked Macrons ambitions of an EU army, threw us back on that front.
We have a united economic sector. We need a united defense system and a united foreign policy. This stabilises the EU to the outside and helps growing stronger internally, hopefully reaching an EU, where the current national identity becomes more of a regional identity in political and administrative terms.
I know this ideal got further away over the past years, rather than closer, but i will keep hoping for it as long as the EU exists.
My thoughts exactly. Well put.
Next up: russian envoy questions effort to get independent from russian gas.
I am a bit surprised but the position of a Russian envoy to NATO actually exists, and is held by one Aleksandr Burov.