Europe has a crucial moment to take a fundamental role in defending itself

The shocking transformation in American policy, away from Ukraine and its old allies, and its direction towards Russia, has prompted European leaders to root the reassessment of their security requirements.

The days of confidence in dialogue and relying on the United States, and now Europe, have come to a decisive moment, so it must bear the responsibility of Ukraine’s support and take a fundamental role to defend itself. On the sixth of March, the European Council’s emergency meeting resulted in a basic agreement on a basic principle, so that European governments, alone and combined, will allocate the resources necessary to finance a rapid development of its defenses and support for Ukraine, and these decisions are considered adult Importance without sufficient financing cannot be achieved real European security.

But the money alone is not enough, and the main question that the Europeans still have to answer is how to ensure Ukraine’s security without the support of the United States, and how the main responsibility for their defense.

Both matters will take time, but years in the last case, and while Washington, led by US President Donald Trump, may not eventually leave Europe a choice but to move on its own, some European leaders advise to make an offer to the United States that is difficult to reject.

This offer is supposed to include two elements: First, commitment to spreading a great power in Ukraine to prevent any future Russian attacks as part of any endowment of hostilities, and secondly a clear timetable for transferring the main responsibility for defending Europe to the custody of the old continent.

conditions

To support negotiations to end the war in Ukraine, Europe must agree to deploy four fully equipped armored brigades supported by strong air and other vital combat assets, including air and missile defenses, to deter Russia and the reassurance of Ukraine that the resumption of the war against it means that Europe and its army move immediately to its support.

However, this commitment must be conditional on four elements: First, Ukraine must be part of any negotiations that lead to a ceasefire, and Europeans who spread a security force must have full and comprehensive transparency in relation to the essence and results of negotiations.

Secondly, Ukraine’s military capabilities should not be limited to any agreement or negotiating settlement with Russia, and moreover, the continuous Western support of the Ukrainian armed forces should be unrestricted, because the presence of a reliable Ukrainian army is a condition for a permanent peace.

The third condition must be European combat deployment under the leadership and control of NATO, even if the United States chooses not to participate on the ground (as other allies did in previous operations), and the truth has been trained, equipped and operated most European armies in the fighting as part of the “NATO” or led by the United States, especially in indulgence environments.

The United States has always opposed European efforts to create parallel leadership structures, and insisted on integrating the high -density European combat power into “NATO”.

To achieve a successful mission and a permanent peace, European forces in Ukraine need to reach the leadership and control of the “NATO”, its intelligence information, its auxiliary elements, and other strategic assets.

Finally, the United States must remain fully committed to the fifth article of the constitution, and commit to defending Europe in the event of an armed attack on a member state in the “NATO”.

Timeline

In the most distant term, Europe must bear the main responsibility for defending itself. It has left contracts for European investment defense in the defense of the old continent is not fully prepared to play a major role, not to mention a leadership role in its defense, and European allies must adhere to a clear schedule to transfer the responsibility of defense from the United States to Europe.

First, by the end of 2025, European forces should replace the 20,000 US forces that deployed in Europe after the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine in 2022.

However, this commitment does not apply unless any European forces in Ukraine are not deployed, because they do not have the forces necessary to carry out both matters within the proposed timetable.

Second, by the end of this contract, the NATO allies are between 70 and 80% with the requirements of the Alliance’s Rapid Response Force in terms of strength and capabilities, and this includes the ability to deploy about 75 thousand soldiers within 10 days, 225 thousand additional soldiers within 30 days, and 400 thousand additional soldiers within six months, and all of these forces will be ready and fully trained and completely equipped for operations Sustainable and high -density combat.

Finally, by the end of 2032, non -American “NATO” allies can spread 75% of all the required strategic elements.

The United States has provided contracts for the largest part of these vital forces to NATO, including heavy air transport, air -friendly, intelligence information and targeting information, advanced monitoring and surveillance, integrated air and missile defenses, and others.

To take over the main responsibility for defending Europe, Europeans must acquire these strategic assets and re -publish them to confront any emergency.

Obligations

In conjunction with these obligations, the United States should also agree to several its own obligations, including that Washington must agree to an organized replacement of European forces during the five years to the next 10, and coincides with the reduction of American forces and their capabilities and the deployment of new European capabilities, and the United States must adhere to bearing a large part, albeit much less, than the burden of collective defense, including through support for the American strategic bodies that provide support For “NATO”, after Europe takes the main responsibility for its defense.

Washington also must adhere to the chairmanship of the general “NATO” leadership structure and all leaders of the forces (land, air, and sea) by integrating its European leaders under the “NATO” structure, regardless of any other amendments to the leadership structure.

While Europeans bears the greater burden of NATO defense, the United States’ commitment to continuing to provide the pillar of leadership and control needed to maintain the cohesion of “NATO” is crucial.

Finally, Washington must confirm its continued provision of nuclear deterrent pillars, including the continued deployment of nuclear forces in Europe as part of the “NATO” agreements to share nuclear weapons. The role of other nuclear and non -nuclear allies is to enhance this deterrent position.

It is time for a new Atlantic deal, a deal in which Europe takes over the main responsibility of the continent, through which the United States enables Europe to do so, the White House may not be in a mood to accept this timetable to transfer responsibility, but approval will enhance Europe’s commitment to its security and renewal of the Atlantic relations. About “Foreign Policy”

. Some parties advised European leaders to make an offer to the United States to be difficult to reject.

. America must remain committed to the defense of Europe, in the event of an armed attack on a member state of “NATO”.