The war in Ukraine and uncertainties over future U.S. funding of NATO have reignited speculation about Europe’s ability to provide its own defense.
Journalist Valérie Gauriat traveled to Warsaw and Poland’s northeastern border to assess concerns about the potential threat of an extension of the conflict to Europe, and expectations regarding European Union and NATO allies.
On April 22, some 5,000 soldiers from seven European countries and the United States took part in a NATO defensive exercise, 80 km south of the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.
This exercise, which is part of as part of Operation Steadfast Defender 2024, the largest series of maneuvers organized by the Atlantic Alliance since the end of the Cold Warmade it possible to test the interoperability of the forces.
“In accordance with our regional plan, we are practicing the defense of the eastern flank of Europe”General Krzysztof Król, advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Polish Army, told Euronews.
“Everything is done to prepare our society to defend itself in the event of an attack”
We continue our journey further north, to the Goldap border post, located 2 kilometers from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. It has been closed since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The proximity of NATO forces reassures the region’s inhabitants, but they want to be prepared for any eventuality.
Piotr Bartoszuk, director of a vocational high school in Goldap, shows us the virtual shooting gallery installed in the school basement. Military training, subsidized by the Ministry of Defense, was added to the program this year.
“Everything is done to prepare our society to defend itself in the event of an attack”explains Piotr Bartoszuk. “The civil defense law being developed in Poland requires that we educate people and build shelters and warning systems in the country. Let this be a science fiction scenario – whether Vladimir Putin attacks us or not – it’s good to be prepared”.
Poland calls on its European allies to mobilize
Leading European contributor of military aid to Ukraine, Poland urges EU partners to step up support and increase defense budgets.
“We have never had the feeling of such an immediate threat. If we do not end this fierce war taking place on the borders of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, we could soon face a much greater threat.”explains Cezary Tomczyk, Polish Deputy Defense Minister, to Euronews. “And it is a threat to all European countries”.
“The European Union is today the largest economy in the world. And we are capable of building capacities that will allow Europe to be a real security zone and not look elsewhere in the world for that”he adds.
Around 80% of arms acquisitions currently come from outside Europe, including 60% from the United States.
A European response too slow?
Last March, The European Commission has proposed a new strategy to boost the Union’s defense industry.
The European Union’s ambitions are too modest and dangerously slow to materialize, says defense expert Łukasz Maślanka of the Center for Oriental Studies in Warsaw.
“We hear France, Italy, Germany talking about European defense. But these words are not followed by concrete actions”he told Euronews.
“Today, it seems unlikely that Vladimir Putin will start a new war with a NATO country. But who knows what will happen in two years? We don’t know who will be the president of the United States. It is unclear whether there will be a populist government in a major European country, which could also hamper European efforts to counter Vladimir Putin’s aggression. All this can create very comfortable conditions for Russia to continue its aggression in Europe.”he warns.
A feeling shared by many people in Poland. More and more citizens enlist in the Polish Territorial Defense Forces.
“The risk is very serious at the moment, because Ukraine is losing the war, according to most analyses. The West is not helping it enough in my opinion”says Grzegorz Szczepański, a Polish territorial defense volunteer, to Valérie Gauriat. “The risk of an invasion in our country is very high”.
“There is an awareness of the threat of the return to us of the “Great Bear” from the East. This is why people, society as a whole, are mobilizing and starting to prepare for the worst-case scenario“explains Master Corporal Przemysław Łuszczki, spokesperson for the Warsaw Territorial Defense Brigade, who concludes:
“We do not want Russia to conquer Europe again. We will be the first to defend it”.
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