War looms for Europe, warns Poland’s Donald Tusk
“I don’t want to scare anyone, but war is no longer a
concept from the past,” said Polish prime minister.
MARCH 29,
2024 2:24 PM CET
BY CLAUDIA
CHIAPPA
https://www.politico.eu/article/polish-prime-minister-donald-tusk-warns-europe-pre-war-era/
Polish
Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that Europe is in a “pre-war era” but still
has a “long way to go” before it's ready to face the threat ahead.
“I don't
want to scare anyone, but war is no longer a concept from the past,” Tusk said
in an interview with several European media outlets. "It is real, in fact
it already started more than two years ago."
Tusk said
what’s most worrying right now is that “literally any scenario is
possible," adding that Europe has not faced a situation like this since
1945.
“I know it
sounds devastating, especially to people of the younger generation, but we have
to mentally get used to the arrival of a new era,” he said. “The pre-war era. I
don’t exaggerate. This is becoming more and more apparent every day."
Amid
Russia’s ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which started in February
2022, Western allies and top military officials have become increasingly
worried about a potential spillover of violence — despite Russian President
Vladimir Putin repeatedly denying any intentions to attack NATO.
Last week,
a Russian missile entered Polish airspace, prompting Warsaw to activate F-16 fighter jets, in what Tusk
called a “troubling incident.”
But while
tumult is on the horizon, Tusk warned that Europe is not ready to face the
threat.
“We must be
ready. Europe still has a long way to go,” he said. The first step is for
countries to meet NATO’s target of spending 2 percent of their GDP on defense,
he added.
"Today
we have to spend as much as we can to buy equipment and ammunition for Ukraine,
because we are living in the most critical moment since the end of the Second
World War," he said. "The next two years will decide everything. If
we cannot support Ukraine with enough equipment and ammunition, if Ukraine
loses, no one in Europe will be able to feel safe."
At the same
time, Tusk welcomed the attitude adjustment that has prompted some European
leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, to ring the alarm bell
more loudly.
“When I was
prime minister for the first time [2007-2011], nobody except ... Baltic states
paid any attention to my warnings that Russia could be a threat,” he said.
“Now, without particular satisfaction, I observe the changes that are taking
place in all capitals in Europe.”
With U.S.
presidential elections coming up at the end of the year, European leaders have
grown increasingly concerned over the likelihood of another Donald Trump
presidency, fearful he would withdraw from NATO and obstruct further assistance
to Kyiv. But to Tusk, Europe's role remains unchanged no matter who's next in
the White House.
"Whether
[U.S. President] Joe Biden or Donald Trump wins the next election, it is Europe
that needs to do more when it comes to defense," Tusk said.
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