“Putin is a predator” and “it won’t stop”that has been the message of the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenduring a travel round to Countries on the front line of defense in front of Russia To understand their needs, which the German has concluded on Monday.
Between Friday, August 29, and Monday, September 1, von der Leyen has visited seven countries: Latvia, Finland, Estonia, Poland, Bulgaria, Lithuania and Romania. The same as For years they warned of the Russian threat, which finally materialized with the invasion of Ukraine. “It is clear that Putin will not stop here”warned the German from Helsinki.
The objective of this round of contacts and visits was understand firsthand what are the challenges to those who face these countries, and how the EU can help. “Europe is only safe if the eastern border is safe”the president recognized during her first stop in Riga.
Existential threat
The EU, whose capacity for influence has been based for decades on Diplomacy and legislation developmentfaces an existential threat. With the Peace negotiations for stagnant Ukraine and before the growing threat of Russia, Priority is rearma. The objective is to continue supporting kyiv, and reinforce European defense capacity.
According to European intelligence services, The Kremlin is preparing to test the block In the coming years. That The GPS system on which the plane navigation depended in which the president was traveling An attack by Russiaaccording to Bulgarian authorities, gives an idea of the challenge.
Brussels, and the twenty -seven, They recognize not being ready. And all efforts now focus on strengthening the security of the continent, and Keep the pulse to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, increasing the pressure on the Kremlin and supporting the Ukrainian army. “As we reinforce the defense of Ukraine, we must also assume greater responsibility for our own defense”, Said the president last Friday.
Hybrid threats
“We are observing that Russia and its allies are testing our resistance And probing our vulnerabilities, especially in the Baltic Air Space and at sea, ”said von der Leyen from ämari, in Estonia, last Saturday. He did it before even the incident that had forced the pilots under the plane in which he was traveling to make maps to continue flightalready without GPS for an interference.
Because another of the great challenges facing the block is precisely The protection of critical infrastructure and the fight against hybrid threats. The migratory flows from Belarusia enter this category in the eyes of the Commission. Von der Leyen said that there will be “Additional financing” For countries that have direct border with Russia or Belarus, insisting that “if they test [Lituania, Finlandia…]es Europe as a whole who is tested”A speech practically traced in each of his visits.
Joint purchases and coordination
During his trip, von der Leyen has taken breast for the different initiatives that the Commission has put on the table. The main role of the EU, with NATO in command of military coordinationIt is putting money. The commission proposed in this regard make fiscal norms more flexible so that countries could increase their defense expenditure. Brussels believes that this can achieve Mobilize up to 800,000 million.
In addition, the German announced last Friday that 19 countries, including Spain, have requested loans in favorable conditions for Joint Armament Purchasesammunition, air defense systems … the objective of the European financial instrument that amounts to 150,000 million euros is to add the demand and facilitate that the countries, inside and outside the block, reach their Military Capacities Objectives of common interest.
But it is not enough. Von der Leyen insisted on Krynki, Poland that Putin “You can only keep at bay through a strong deterrence”. Therefore, the president announced that her commission is exploring ways to Increase defense spendinganalyzing the existing deficiencies to be able to mark clear objectives from here to 2030.
“We must coordinate, be precise and fast with the reinforcement of our defensive position in the European Union and, specifically, in the first -line states, ”said the German. All these issues will be part of the debate that leaders will have within the framework of the Informal European Council held next October In Copenhagen. The President Antonio Costa He has also started his own capital tour this week.
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