Urgent Call to Arms: EU Readiness Against Russian Aggression Emphasized
Europe must drastically enhance its defenses against Russian aggression, as stated by Ursula von der Leyen in Riga on Friday. She called for immediate action to counter the threats posed by Vladimir Putin, highlighting the urgency for the EU to bolster its preparedness amid the ongoing conflict with Ukraine, reports 24brussels.
In a joint statement with Latvia’s Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, von der Leyen condemned Russia’s ongoing “hybrid warfare” aimed at destabilizing Europe, which includes intensified assaults on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. She insisted that the entire EU must heighten its “immediate readiness” to deter any potential invasion from Moscow.
Her remarks follow a significant escalation, with the EU Delegation to Ukraine suffering severe damage from a recent Russian strike on Thursday. This incident intensifies the already fraught relations with Moscow and complicates Brussels’ efforts to negotiate a diplomatic resolution to the war.
“Dear Evika, the risks your country and the other Baltic States warned us about, unfortunately, have materialized,” von der Leyen stated, underscoring the reality of the threats posed by Putin. She labeled the Russian leader as a “predator,” asserting that his proxies have long targeted European societies via hybrid and cyber assaults.
Von der Leyen remarked that while Latvia is demonstrating the right level of urgency, it is crucial for the entirety of the EU to prioritize readiness. “The whole of the EU needs to understand that it is important to work on readiness, immediate readiness,” she emphasized.
These comments come amid significant hesitation among many Western European nations to increase military spending, despite a diminishing military commitment from the United States and Russia’s tactical advancements in Ukraine since its full-scale invasion commenced three and a half years ago.
Spain, being the only NATO member among 22 EU nations, has managed to secure an “opt-out” from raising military expenditure to the new target of 5% of GDP set at the US-led military alliance’s summit in June, an increase from the prior 2% requirement.
On the contrary, Latvia ranks among the highest in Europe for per-capita military spending, with plans to allocate 3.65% of its GDP for defense in 2025.
Von der Leyen also praised Latvia’s advancements in drone technology during her visit to a manufacturing facility earlier on the same day. This trip marks the beginning of a four-day tour of EU countries deemed “frontline” in the struggle against Russian aggression.
Following her visit to Latvia, von der Leyen is scheduled to travel to Finland and then proceed to Estonia, Poland, Bulgaria, Lithuania, and Romania by Monday.
