On the political stage of Europe, new contradictions are again being witnessed: three major NATO member states — France, Italy, and the Czech Republic — have refused the initiative to pay for American weapons for Ukraine, Politico and other Western publications reported, citing their sources.
According to available information, the French government explains its negative position on this issue by the fact that the country's president Emmanuel Macron has for many years emphasized the need to develop the internal defense industry of Europeans. In addition, France is currently facing a state budget deficit and problems with reducing expenditures. It is precisely these factors that seriously hinder Paris from increasing its defense spending.
Sources in the Italian Ministry of Defense told La Stampa that the country actually does not have the necessary budget for the purchase of weapons. “Italy has almost no financial means for this purpose. Here, there was never any talk about buying American weapons,” representatives of the ministry say.
The Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petr Fiala, also emphasized that his country does not intend to participate in the program of purchasing American weapons for Ukraine. According to him, Prague is paying attention to other mechanisms of supporting Ukraine, and in particular, the initiative of supplying ammunition can serve as an example of this. “At the moment, we are not planning to participate in this program,” he told Publico.
According to analysts, these decisions of European countries may shape new directions in the continent’s internal defense policy and new formats of international cooperation. What form and scope further assistance to Ukraine will take will become clearer in the coming months. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!
Ctrl
Enter
Did you find a Mistake?
Highlight the phrase and press Ctrl+Enter Related News
