News item | 18-02-2025 | 16:48
“We have to take action now. Europe has only 1 chance to do this well. ” This warning came last night from Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans. In Maastricht, he emphasized during his Europe reading that the continent cannot count on the protection of the United States. According to him, Europe must earn it. “And we don’t have much time for that.”
Brekelmans discussed the peace file that US President Donald wants to force Trump. This via extra sanctions for Russia or reduced trebbite to Ukraine.
The minister fears a poor peace agreement. That would not only be a blow to Ukraine, but also a danger to Europe. “After more than 3 years of war, the conclusion is that aggression overcomes in Europe,” he said. “We have to realize how dangerous that is.” According to Brekelmans, it is a signal for other autocratic leaders that boundaries can be pushed with violence. That international agreements are only paper promises. “
Aggression
Brekelmans is convinced that Putin will try it once. “The aggression of Russia is like a lava flow. All -destroying, steadily advancing, always looking for a place where it can break through. He will once again invade Ukraine or another former Soviet republic. The Baltic states maybe, now NATO countries. “
But there are more worries. “If aggression pays off, that can encourage China to become more aggression against Taiwan; Iran to more aggression in the Middle East. ” Brekelmans says that Europe is not in the first place for America. “That wants to focus primarily on domestic safety, so more soldiers on the border with Mexico. And secondly, focus on combating China. Only somewhere after that Europe comes between other priorities such as Israel and the Middle East. Americans therefore no longer speak about the fair distribution of the burden within NATO, but about shifting the burden. By Burden-Sharing Unpleasant Burden-Shifting.
“How do we keep Europe free and safe?”
As far as Brekelmans are concerned, we can find everything about this, “but it is the new reality.” He then outlines 3 possibilities to keep Europe, the Netherlands and also Ukraine, free and safe. He argues for the military support for Ukraine to continue unabated. “In fact, there is still a big scoop from European countries. Right now. The stronger Ukraine is on the battlefield, the greater the chance of a fair and sustainable peace agreement. ”Europe must also prevent more concessions to be made to Russia.
“Then there is a weak deal, which lays the breeding ground for more Russian aggression and war. That is why we have to continue to support Ukraine in full military. ” Furthermore, the minister wants Ukraine to get robust security guarantees. “Robust means with a ceasefire or peace stock that Putin is definitely discouraged from starting a new war,” he explains. Brekelmans is of the opinion that this is only possible if the mandate of any peacemakes is crystal clear, because Putin will test any peace file. And Putin must find a stronger opponent in the event of escalation.
Intense statements
For a free and safe Europe, Brekelmans sees it as necessary that the continent quickly gets the defense and deterrence in order and also keeps it. Then Putin does not get it in his head to attack one of the NATO allies in Europe. Brekelmans is clear about how NATO is doing. “In between all the intense statements, the American defense minister also said that NATO is more relevant to the United States than ever. The US also sees a stacking of threats coming in. Even for the US is a so -called Force Multiplier of 31 countries unique. 32 allies who are side-by-side also makes the US more powerful towards Russia, China, Iran and North Korea. ”
However, NATO’s combat force must be raised to remain deterrent. Brekelmans: “To speak in American words: Make Nato Great Again. “
Resilient society
The minister also made the urgent request to give the military organization more room to grow. He also pointed out importance of a resilient society again. “Because if NATO really comes to war, the armed forces will only keep it full if the entire society is involved and resilient. Society must support Defense: with transport and logistics, with hospital capacity in the country, with industrial production, with universities and entrepreneurs who help with military innovations, with companies that guarantee our soldiers electricity, communication and food and with employers who ensure that their employees can serve as a reservist, “he sums up.
Furthermore, Brekelmans argued for a stronger defense industry and explains the importance of this.