Fear of “evil forces”
British Minister: We are in the “pre-war world”
April 4, 2024, 1:36 p.m
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Russia, China, Iran, North Korea: The British Defense Secretary paints a bleak picture of the current security situation: “These evil powers are increasingly joining forces and our democracy is in their crosshairs.” Shapps therefore has several demands.
Britain’s Defense Secretary Grant Shapps has highlighted the importance of NATO in view of current threats and called for the defense alliance to be strengthened. “We have moved from a post-war to a pre-war world,” Shapps wrote in an op-ed for the British newspaper “Telegraph” on the occasion of the alliance’s 75th anniversary.
“Russia threatens our neighbors. China is increasingly aggressive. Iran is using its proxies to wreak regional havoc from the Middle East to the Strait of Yemen,” his op-ed said. “And North Korea continues to rattle its nuclear saber. These evil powers are increasingly joining forces and our democracy is in their crosshairs.”
Shapps demanded three things. The alliance must redouble its efforts to support Ukraine, which is being attacked by Russia. The member states would have to do more to finance it. “We cannot afford to play Russian roulette with our future,” Shapps wrote. In addition, the Euro-Atlantic defense sector must be expanded: Russia is adapting the industry to its military needs; NATO countries would have to do the same and invest more in ammunition and stockpiles.
London: Ukraine belongs in NATO
NATO was founded on April 4, 1949 in Washington in response to the policies of the communist Soviet Union. The anniversary is the moment to renew the historic commitment to the alliance, said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Ukraine’s rightful place is also in NATO.
Ukraine has been defending itself against a war of aggression by Russia for more than two years. The country is supported by several states, but is not a member of NATO.