William Molinié / Photo credit: JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP
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07:32, June 19, 2023
France receives this Monday 18 European Ministers of Defense in Paris. In particular, Emmanuel Macron’s project to create an air defense for the European Union will be mentioned. While the war in Ukraine is still raging, the European general staffs agree on shortcomings in their air defense system.
On the sidelines of the Paris Air Show, Sébastien Lecornu, Minister of the Armed Forces, welcomes 18 European Defense Ministers to Paris this Monday. Regarding the discussions, Emmanuel Macron’s project to create an air defense of the European Union. The Europeans want to distance themselves from NATO and therefore from the United States. The war in Ukraine forces Brussels to review its military strategy in the sky.
What about the fight against drones?
Since the end of the Second World War, Europe has retained the supremacy of its airspace, which has led it to abandon questions of solar defence. However, from now on, the European General Staffs agree on some shortcomings in their air defense system, particularly in terms of capabilities. For example, no European weapon system is capable of firing long-range missiles.
The war in Ukraine also raises the question of the fight against drones. Is it reasonable to spend 100,000 euros to neutralize a single drone that cost barely 10,000 euros to manufacture? France wants a new strategic framework on these issues, we argue at the Ministry of the Armed Forces.
A showdown with the Germans
The debate is very sensitive with the Germans, who have just signed for four billion euros the acquisition of an Israeli anti-missile shield. Berlin intends to take the reins of the air defense of the Old Continent. As if to try to minimize the French initiative on the subject, the Federal Chancellery did not send its Minister of Defense to Paris on Monday but a Secretary of State in charge of equipment.