Expert Explains if NATO Countries Can Increase Air Defence Capacity by 400%

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that Alliance member countries need to increase their air and missile defense capabilities by 400%. Serhiy Dzherdzh, head of the Ukraine-NATO Public League, analyzed whether NATO countries will be able to achieve their goals.

The Gaze reports on this with reference to FREEDOM TV channel broadcast.

"Mark Rutte said that there is no longer an eastern flank or western flank of NATO due to the fact that the distance between capitals is small, and modern technology and medium-range missiles can cover the whole of Europe. Therefore, everyone should think about it. We cannot think only that it is important to strengthen NATO's eastern flank and that this danger from Russia is directed at NATO's eastern flank, while there is no danger for other countries in the center of Europe and in Western Europe. [Rutte] clearly presented this,” said Dzherdzh.

He stressed that the danger from Russia exists for all NATO countries. Therefore, it is necessary to think about protecting all capitals, taking into account the new weapons and new technology that Russia can use.

"Therefore, if we are talking about strengthening air defense by 400%, it is possible. Nothing is impossible here. When it comes to money, European countries are large, with large economies and large budgets, and this is not a problem for them. Everything needs to be planned. Perhaps it will not be possible to do it quickly, given the capabilities of the military-industrial complex, but it is entirely possible,” said Serhiy Dzherdzh.

But for NATO, it is not only the strengthening of air defense that is important, but also infrastructure projects.

“First, in addition to 3.5% [of GDP for defense], another 1.5% is needed for infrastructure projects, because much of Europe was built and developed according to the protocol of peaceful life. Everything was done for the economy, for convenience, and to simplify economic ties between countries. But from a military point of view, there are problems. The problem of military equipment crossing from one country to another, the so-called military visa-free travel, does not actually work in Europe. That is, to some extent, it can complicate the rapid movement of large numbers of troops and equipment,” the expert explained.

He said that many bridges were built for civilian vehicles and may not be able to withstand heavy tanks and military equipment.

“It is necessary to strengthen and expand, reinforce so that roads and bridges can carry large quantities of military equipment. The same applies to such field reserve airfields, where aircraft requiring emergency landing could land. All of this together is also a big job that can be done if the government's philosophy changes and shifts toward security and the needs of NATO countries' armed forces to protect Europe,” summed up the head of the Ukraine-NATO Public League.

As The Gaze reported earlier, NATO member countries are poised to include military assistance to Ukraine in their official defense spending calculations as part of the Alliance's proposal to increase defense budgets to 5% of GDP.