Despite preparations to repel a potential Russian attack, Europe still has many gaps in its air and missile defense systems, said Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, former commander of the US Army in Europe, according to UkrInform.
He urged Europe to be ready for a possible war with Russia by addressing border crossing issues and building infrastructure to support military operations. According to the general, Latvia may have to prepare for the worst-case scenario—”two weeks until someone comes to help” in the event of a Russian attack.
Hodges made these remarks during the “No Time to Lose – Preparing Europe for a Conventional War” panel at the Warsaw Security Forum.
“We still don’t have an adequate air and missile defense system to protect our airports, seaports, and critical infrastructure. We still cannot move quickly enough across Europe. So military mobility remains a problem that needs to be addressed,” said Hodges.
At the same time, he noted that every country is strengthening its defense capabilities, particularly NATO’s eastern flank, with Poland being especially effective. However, many countries are still hoping the threat will fade, the general added.
“Imagine a week of what’s happening in Ukraine, but in Gdańsk, Klaipėda, or Tallinn… We must be prepared for this. It worries me the most because I don’t think we can move as fast or faster than Russian forces. We have not yet resolved infrastructure issues or border-crossing restrictions; this is still a problem. Therefore, for example, Lithuania may have to prepare for the worst-case scenario—two weeks until someone comes to help,” said Hodges.
Meanwhile, Polish Member of the European Parliament Michał Kobosko emphasized that Europe’s defense industry is also not ready for a real war.
“In many EU member states, there is no real cooperation between defense sectors, and it needs to be developed… General Hodges pointed out that we are not ready militarily, but we are also not prepared in terms of industry. This is where the European Commission and the European Parliament can do a lot,” said Kobosko.
He also highlighted the presence of pro-Russian associates in the European Parliament, particularly among far-right parties that oppose real actions to prepare for war.
“However, fortunately, most political forces agree that we must do everything possible and accelerate our preparations on the political side as well to be ready for investments in defense programs and cooperation between member states,” added Kobosko.
Earlier, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Defense for European Integration, Oleksandr Balanutsa, emphasized that long-term peace cannot be achieved without Ukraine’s NATO membership.
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