Dutch Defence Minister urges Europe to be prepared to fight

Kajsa Ollongren, Minister of Defence of the Netherlands, believes that European countries have to strengthen their defence capabilities to be "fit to fight".

Source: Kajsa Ollongren on Twitter (X), reporting on her speech during the Berlin Security Conference

Details: Ollongren said that no country can handle today’s security threats alone.

"We Europeans need to step up our game, build a credible European defense, and strengthen our position as a key pillar within NATO," she wrote.

She explained that because there have been no wars within the European Union, EU membership is "both a reward and a promise of peace and stability".

No single nation can tackle today’s security threats on its own. We Europeans need to step up our game, build a credible European defense, and strengthen our position as a key pillar within @NATO. #BSC23 (1/4) pic.twitter.com/ZXZguyN6g2

— Kajsa Ollongren (@DefensieMin) November 30, 2023

"To keep it that way, it is essential that we act now. Europe must re-learn deterrence. We must make long-term, structural investments in strengthening our armed forces. We need to be ‘fit to fight’," Ollongren continued.

Previously: Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that Russia’s attack on the Baltic States and other NATO member states was only a matter of time.

Landsbergis is also concerned that if Ukraine’s Western allies fail to help secure Ukraine’s victory, Russia will take it as a victory of its own and will start preparing for a new war, with any of its neighbours being a likely target.

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