**NATO Calls for Fivefold Boost in European Air Defenses Amid Russian Threat**
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is urging its European member countries to significantly increase their ground-based air defense capabilities, according to a report by Bloomberg on June 3. This move comes as tensions with Russia remain high and the U.S. commitment to Europe’s defense becomes increasingly uncertain.
**Shoring Up Security**
The reported request for a fivefold boost in air defenses is NATO’s latest effort to strengthen European security amid concerns about Russian aggression and an uncertain U.S. commitment to the continent’s defense. This push comes as NATO faces pressure from its European members to improve their collective security posture.
**NATO Defense Ministers to Discuss Air Defense Boost**
At a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on June 5, officials will discuss the proposed air defense boost among other proposed defense increases. The gathering sets the stage for the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague on June 24-25. A senior European military official noted that NATO members face a shortage of ground-based air-defense systems to protect against drones, missiles, and fighter jets.
**A Collective Goal**
The fivefold increase in air defenses is not just a goal set by one country but a collective target for all NATO’s European members. The timeframe for achieving this goal remains unclear. As the situation with Russia continues to evolve, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte emphasized the need for continued strengthening of deterrence and defense capabilities.
**Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine and Its Aftermath**
The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022 prompted a significant hike in defense spending among European countries as they sought to revive their military capabilities following decades of disarmament. Ukrainian and Western officials have sounded the alarm on Russia’s threat to both NATO and Europe, warning that an open clash between Moscow and NATO could break out two to four years after the full-scale war against Ukraine ends.
**Key Takeaways**
* NATO is urging European member countries to increase their ground-based air defense capabilities by five times in response to Russian aggression.
* The proposed air defense boost is a collective goal for NATO’s European members, with varying levels of increase from individual states.
* A shortage of ground-based air-defense systems has been identified among NATO members as they face threats from drones, missiles, and fighter jets.
* The request comes amid concerns about an uncertain U.S. commitment to Europe’s defense.
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