Mesezhnykov: Europe should strengthen its military potential

Hrihory Mesezhnykov

It should act in a way that Russia perceives a united Europe as a dangerous rival, and in the event of war, as a powerful enemy that will defeat Russia.

Considering the statements of the newly elected US president, Newssky correspondent asked the president of the Institute of Civil Affairs in Slovakia, Hrihory Mesezhnykov, whether Europe, together with Great Britain and Canada, can manage its security separately from America and how.

When did NATO begin to defend Europe?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949, a few years after the end of World War II, to prevent an attack on liberated Europe by the remnants of the totalitarian regime that existed in Moscow at that time. The United States took responsibility for resolving the issue of defending Europe from a possible attack, first from the Soviet Union, and later from the rest of the communist bloc that formed the Warsaw Pact. For many decades, NATO provided security guarantees to its members and played the role of a factor that neutralized all possible attempts by an aggressive USSR.

For NATO, the European component is very important. In general, NATO is based on the principles of transatlantic solidarity, on the values of freedom, and democracy, and at the same time it was clear that the USA, thanks to its military power, guaranteed security for Europe.

Why did Europe not create any security structure for itself?

For several decades, ideas arose in Europe to strengthen the European component through the development of specific forms of cooperation between European countries in the field of defense and security. At the same time, these were certain programs of the general policy of the Alliance, and some special organizations that would provide for the implementation of a defense and security policy separate from NATO were not created.

For the European Union, the issue of security is quite significant, but the EU did not create any structure, for understanding the importance and capabilities of NATO.

When opinions were expressed, that Europe should create its own security and defense structures, by French politicians, statements were usually made that it was impossible to create an organization as a competitor to NATO. Since there is NATO, one should belong to it, and not create parallel institutions, not bureaucratize the decision-making process in the defense sector.

Recently, we have been hearing more and often due to the manifestation of certain trends in issues of military cooperation within NATO. There is a need for a clearer, with appropriate financial resources, solution to the issues of creating a European security system. Probably, primarily due to the policy of the United States, where the new president Donald Trump, who has specific views on the activities of the Alliance, is beginning to rule, Europe will have to defend the continent alone.

Is Europe going to change anything about its security?

In my opinion, this is possible in theory, and in practice, though it may happen since Europe will have no other choice if the US withdraws from NATO, although this seems unlikely. After all, the geopolitical situation can change, so it is unlikely that this will happen even if certain agreements are concluded between individual European countries and the US.

But if this happens, then Europe will have to take care of its security and defense on its own, because Russia will not change its aggressive nature.

If Russia is not defeated in the war with Ukraine, then it will try to extend its hegemony to European countries.

But we should not forget that Europe, together with Great Britain, even exceeds Russia in terms of population, and it is not even worth talking about the economy and other important areas.

Instead, Europe should strengthen its military potential when Russia perceives a united Europe as a dangerous rival, and in the event of war, a powerful enemy that will defeat Russia!

Deputy Editor-in-Chief (Central Europe and Canada) and Project Manager at V5 Media, Maryna Kovalchuk, contributed.

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