William Molinié, edited by Corentin Alloune / Photo credit: Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP 06:07, June 05, 2023
Emmanuel Macron invited all defense ministers of European countries for a conference in Paris on June 19 to revive the strategic issue of air defense and long-range missiles in Europe.Like an air of an arms race. The France is preparing to open up a highly sensitive subject on the European stage. That of anti-aircraft defense and deep strike capabilities. It is even due to be the subject of a meeting of defence ministers from all European countries in Paris in two weeks' time. For the time being, no country in the European Union has weapons that can fire a missile from its territory and hit a target more than 1,000 km away. A blind spot inherited from the Cold War.
A desire of Macron to move forward on this subject
That was in 1987. Gorbachev and Reagan signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in the White House. Crucial agreement between Russia and the United States in the context of the Cold War. It eliminated a whole category of weapons that threatened Europe at the time.
Mainly surface-to-surface missiles with a range of between 500 and 5,500 km. But in recent years, Moscow has developed a new cruise missile in a very opaque way. The 9M729, which can reach European capitals in just a few minutes. And most importantly, it can carry nuclear warheads.
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Washington declared the treaty null and void in 2019, blaming the Kremlin. But since then, Europeans have still refrained from developing this type of weaponry. According to information from Europe 1, the taboo is about to be lifted. The Germans are in favour of this. Several European-made weapon systems are even at the gates of factories.
Emmanuel Macron wants to put this strategic subject back on the table. To consider a European production of deep strike capabilities. Without leaving the future of the borders of the Old Continent in the hands of NATO or the Russians.