Strengthening Russia's military weakness brings the most cost-effective solution for ensuring peace in Ukraine, suggests Braze.
Rewritten Article:
RIGA - Taming the Russian bear's military muscle is the swiftest and most budget-friendly route to ensuring peace in Ukraine, according to Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze (New Unity), attending the NATO foreign ministers' casual shindig in Turkey.
She highlighted that the main topic of discussion at the laid-back gathering was keeping Russia under control. Braze expressed delight over the European Union (EU) agreeing on additional sanctions against Mother Russia, along with optimism surrounding the Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
"We don't know yet whether the talks will bear fruit, whether this is the start of a process or another effort by Moscow's butcher to deceive the global community," Braze candidly stated.
Addressing uncertainty around US sanctions against Russia, Braze hinted at a heavy-duty sanctions bundle being cooked up. The worldwide community, she assured, has the instruments to reinforce Ukraine further. Nor is there any indication that support for Ukraine will wane.
On how NATO allies can help Ukraine, Braze shed light on a three-year increase in defense spending among alliance members, resulting in a booming military industry. Emphasizing the enhanced production of defense and deterrence capabilities, Braze emphasized the opportunities this presents to aid Ukraine.
To strengthen Ukraine's homegrown defense industry—a crucial component of its might—international backing is essential. More orders from Ukraine and financial investments are needed to enable it to develop and produce its own military sector, Braze explained.
When asked if the informal discussions had clarified the issues to be addressed at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague, Braze reiterated that increased defense spending was a priority, but achieving a common understanding of the global situation was equally crucial. She amplified that this is not only relevant to the conflict in Ukraine, but also to the turbulence in the Middle East.
Braze noted that negotiations also touched on matters of interest to Italy and Spain, including the situation in North Africa and the Middle East in relation to terrorist and organized crime groups and Russia's so-called "Africa corps."
NATO, Braze reminded, is a defense pact whose primary mission is defense. The military experts of the alliance have devised a new NATO Deterrence and Defense Concept, which includes defense blueprints for our region, setting ambitious capacity targets for nations to achieve to ensure successful deterrence and defense.
"Nations are committed. The question is how quickly and which countries can boost defense spending to reach these goals," Braze stated.
She further pointed out that discussions covered issues dear to Italy and Spain, such as the unfolding situation in North Africa and the Middle East, whether concerning terrorist or organized crime organizations or Russia's "Africa corps."
Insights:
NATO allies and partners are working tirelessly to fortify Ukraine's military resources. Key support initiatives include military aid (such as F-16 fighter jets, Patriot missile defense systems, Leopard 2 tanks, artillery, and advanced radar systems), training and capacity building for Ukrainian forces, extensive financial assistance, and enhanced defense posturing by NATO in Eastern Europe to deter Russian aggression.
- In discussions among NATO allies and partners, there's a focus on policy-and-legislation and policy measures to strengthen defense, particularly in the context of war-and-conflicts like the one in Ukraine, aiming to reinforce Ukraine's military capabilities through sanctions, defense spending increases, military aid, and training.
- The politics surrounding the Ukraine-Russia conflict extend beyond Europe, with issues like defense, war-and-conflicts, and policy-and-legislation being addressed in relation to terrorist and organized crime groups, Russia's "Africa corps," and the Middle East, highlighting the global implications of the situation.
