Missile defences on Nato territory in Poland and Romania should be used to help Ukraine, says the alliance's former secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen
The former Nato secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen, right, who visited President Zelensky in January, thinks that Ukraine’s allies should use missile defences like this one in Romania to shoot incoming Russian missiles and drones Missile defences on Nato territory in Poland and Romania should be used to help Ukraine, says the alliance's former secretary general Anders Fogh RasmussenRob is Special Projects Editor at i.
Mr Rasmussen drew inspiration from how American, British and French fighter jets helped Israel’s defence system to “protect against Iranian missiles and drones” on 13 April. The UK Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said on a visit to Lviv this month: “I don’t think it is right to have NATO soldiers Mr Rasmussen rejected this concern. He said Mr Putin “respects Article Five” of Nato’s founding treaty, which says that an attack on one member is deemed to be an attack on all of them. “He wouldn’t attack Nato missile defence systems operating from Nato territory.”“Russia is the aggressor,” argued Mr Rasmussen. “According to Article 51 in the UN Charter, Ukraine has an inherent right to defend itself… Ukraine has a right to ask its allies to help.
“The Ukrainians should have all the long-range missiles they need, all the heavy battle tanks, fighter jets, everything they need”Anders Fogh Rasmussen, centre, was Nato secretary general during the alliance’s summit in 2014. Here meeting David Cameron and Barack Obama, after Russia launched its first partial invasion of Ukraine
He declined to give more details because “a credible deterrent will always depend on keeping your adversary in uncertainty”. But adding that “Putin only respects firmness and power”, he stated: “If you see a Russian space capability attacking a Nato capability, then of course, we have to retaliate.
“During the Cold War, many European countries spent at least 3 per cent on defence. That would unfortunately be a new realistic target.”Mr Rasmussen has met Mr Putin several times. So what does he make of a man he once hoped would be a strategic ally but is now Europe’s biggest enemy? He believes that Mr Putin received “inaccurate intelligence” before the 2022 full-scale invasion – suggesting the West would not back Ukraine militarily – and his plan has backfired. “He wanted less Nato, he has got more Nato – by the new membership of Finland and Sweden.”
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