Europe faces up to prospect US may be unable to arm Nato allies

Lead

European capitals are grappling with the prospect that the United States may be unable to arm Nato allies as pledged, as concerns mount over depleted US defence stockpiles and delayed arms shipments. Nato leaders, including US President Donald Trump, are set to convene in Ankara to address European defence spending and the future of US commitment to the alliance, according to The Guardian.

The Guardian reports that the US defence industrial base has been strained by conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, leading to delayed or cancelled deliveries of key weapons systems to European countries this year, including Tomahawk cruise missiles, Himars mobile rocket artillery, and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles. These systems are deemed crucial for countering missile threats in Ukraine and for the defence of Europe in a potential conflict with Russia.

Coverage Comparison

The Guardian's coverage focuses on the depletion of US defence resources and the consequent anxiety among European allies. It highlights the anger in European capitals over the shortages, while noting efforts to avoid direct confrontation with the Trump administration. The newspaper also reports on a proposal by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Nato secretary general, for a European coalition of the willing, including Ukraine, to defend the continent. Rasmussen, who has served as a close adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, suggests that France and the UK, as Europe's nuclear powers, should lead such a force.

TASS, the Russian state news agency, reports on French President Emmanuel Macron's call for the European Union to expand weapons production to counter recognised threats. Macron's remarks, made in an address to the French army, emphasise the need for the defence industry to mobilise and shift to mass production of certain weapons when necessary. He also acknowledged the failure of the French-German programme for a new-generation fighter jet under the SCAF/FCAS project, while calling for continued development of a main battle tank and modern air defence systems.

Key Claims

• The US defence industrial base is depleted due to conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, according to The Guardian.
• The US has delayed or cancelled deliveries of key arms shipments to European countries, including Tomahawk missiles, Himars, and PAC-3 missiles, as reported by The Guardian.
• Nato leaders are convening in Ankara to address European defence spending and concerns over US commitment, per The Guardian.
• Ukraine has been unable to intercept ballistic missiles due to insufficient supply of interceptor missiles, as stated by President Zelenskyy and reported by The Guardian.
• European capitals are angered by US shortages and are seeking to avoid direct conflicts with the Trump administration, according to The Guardian.
• A European coalition of the willing, including Ukraine, should be established to defend the continent, proposed by Anders Fogh Rasmussen and reported by The Guardian.
• France and the UK should lead the coalition to provide security guarantees for continental Europe, per Rasmussen's proposal in The Guardian.
• Ukraine should be an integrated part of a new European security architecture, as advocated by Rasmussen in The Guardian.
• The EU plans to agree on a new target of €70bn extra spending for Ukraine over two years, reported by The Guardian.
• The EU needs to expand weapons production to better counter recognised threats, according to President Macron, as reported by TASS.
• The French-German programme for the development of a new-generation fighter jet failed, acknowledged by Macron and reported by TASS.
• France plans to continue development of a main battle tank and modern air defence systems, as stated by Macron and reported by TASS.

Perspectives

European Allies (via The Guardian): European capitals are concerned about US reliability and are exploring alternatives, including a coalition of the willing led by France and the UK, and increased defence spending.

French Government (via TASS): President Macron advocates for expanding EU weapons production and accelerating defence industrial output to ensure strategic stability and deterrence.