There are many new developments to be discussed at the NATO summit in Brussels. And according to foreign commentator Hammelburg, it’s good that the military alliance’s defense ministers are sitting together right now.
Among other things, he has questions about the weapons capability that NATO itself still has. “Ever since the huge aid program for Ukraine started, there has been talk of cannibalizing our own supplies,” Hammelburg says. According to him, the defense industry is working overtime and wants to mean as much as possible.
‘The Netherlands has just agreed to provide additional anti-aircraft defences, such as radar systems to detect enemy aircraft movements. But Japan has also increased the production of 155mm shells. According to Hammelburg, the defense story is a complicated puzzle. “Furthermore, Jens Stoltenberg always warns that NATO must persevere,” says Hammelburg.
According to Hammelburg, there has also been a new debate in the US Congress on the supply of weapons to Ukraine. Members wonder how long this can go on. Biden has so far always drawn from a figure set by the previous parliament, something like 100 billion dollars. Every time he makes commitments, he deducts them from the money already reserved.’ At some point, this amount will be depleted and new budgets will need to be made. Problems are to be expected there, “so it is very good that defense ministers are meeting on behalf of NATO,” says Hammelburg.
NATO membership Sweden
Ministers are also discussing Sweden’s NATO membership. Not only are the Hungarians against it, but also Turkey does not see membership positively. According to Hammelburg, NATO countries had hoped it would be completed before the big NATO summit in July. According to Hammelburg, Erdogan is calling for much tougher measures against the Kurdish community in Sweden, while the country says it has done what it could. That Turkey is obstructive is really a point. President Joe Biden used the delivery of American F-16s as a bargaining chip for a deal on Sweden with Erdogan. Apparently this deal isn’t working yet, or the deal hasn’t worked yet,” Hammelburg said.
The battle
Meanwhile, battle rages on at the front. Putin says the Ukrainian offensive is a failure and Ukrainians are suffering heavy casualties. Ukraine, on the other hand, claims to make a profit. According to Hammelburg, Ukraine’s total amount of reclaimed land is now about one hundred square kilometers. “It’s nothing,” he says. But the Russians also prepared well for the offensive. “They have huge fortifications, like concrete walls that you can’t even get into with a tank. It’s a tie so far, I’d say.’
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From now on Russia also allows criminals to join the army. “I think this is the last thing you do before declaring a general mobilization,” Hammelburg says. According to him, Russia is trying to avoid a general mobilization. The offensive has not been very successful for Russia so far. “The Russians could use a lot of reinforcements in the field, so I think this is one way to do it.” Nobody knows how much this will pay off. “When push comes to shove, Russia has huge reserves of people and can even go to war with ‘ordinary Russians,’ Hammelburg said.