Polish Foreign Minister Sikorski: ‘Europe should rearm’

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said that in order to defeat Russia’s imperial ambitions, the whole of Europe needs to rearm. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, in an interview with the British newspaper The Guardian, stated that in order to overcome Russia’s imperial ambitions, a long-term rearmament of Europe, in which the UK will also play a role, is necessary. Minister Sikorski pointed out that Russia is currently achieving victories that are not very significant and mentioned that Poland, Germany, and France support a broad-based initiative to fill the gaps in the defense capabilities of the European Union (EU) that emerged towards the end of the Cold War. Radoslaw Sikorski expressed that his country spends 4% of its GDP on defense and noted that other countries must reach this ratio as well. Sikorski stated, ‘After the end of the Cold War, all defense industry facilities were allowed to close because it was expensive to convince companies to keep production lines in reserve. European defense equipment manufacturers still do not believe that the armament process is sustainable.’ The Polish Minister, mentioning that Russian President Vladimir Putin spends 40% of the country’s GDP on defense and that 3.5 million people work in military industrial facilities, said that on the contrary, Europe not only disarmed but also deindustrialized in the defense sector.
“I am in favor of the establishment of a 5,000-strong EU mechanized brigade” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated that Russia has not restrained itself much other than using nuclear weapons, pointing out that Russians have hit Ukraine’s energy grids, wheat terminals, gas depots, and civilian structures. Sikorski, who is skeptical about Russia’s nuclear weapon use threat, stated that the threat of the U.S. to attack Russian targets in Ukrainian territories with conventional weapons, even if it will not kill anyone, is credible enough for Russia. Urging countries to support the EU sanctions against Russia, Radoslaw Sikorski said, “I am in favor of the establishment of a 5,000-strong EU mechanized brigade.” Minister Sikorski emphasized that Poland is in favor of being deeply involved in EU security and defense structures if desired by the UK.