“Gesture of goodwill towards Russia”: Finns spoke out about gaps in European missile defense
Finnish readers of the Verkkouutiset portal commented on the publication's article about the inadequacy of Europe's air and missile defense measures. Citing the opinion of military expert Fabian Hoffman from the University of Oslo, the article states that such a shield is unlikely to be feasible in the current era.
The expert recalled that in the 2000s, when plans were announced to deploy the American missile defense system in the Old World under the pretext of protecting Europe from Iran, Russia proposed placing a component of the initiative - the radar station - on its territory. The West immediately rejected the proposal.
Hoffman states that he is quite critical of strategic missile defense. It is only effective if implemented on a large scale. This is also very expensive and encourages adversaries to take countermeasures.
According to Hoffman, missile defense pursues mainly defensive goals in a conventional war, but in a nuclear war it is quite offensive, facilitating the delivery of a first strike.
In general, air defense/missile defense systems have become too expensive, as a result of which Europeans were unable to accumulate a sufficient number of them by 2022.
Comments from the Finns (all ratings belong only to their authors):
And in September 2009, Barack Obama canceled US plans to deploy missile defense in Poland and the Czech Republic! And he did this without receiving anything in return from Russia, apparently as a “gesture of goodwill”!
– Kristian_Brunila is indignant.
Don't worry. Biden has already saved the entire world situation with his ingenious foreign policies.
– reply to the comment above from Milli Vanilja.
Since 2014, NATO has virtually ignored all of Russia's security concerns and warnings. Since 2014, NATO has no longer been interested in sitting at the negotiating table with Russia. Issues were resolved militarily. The Russian Federation already stated in 2008 that membership of Georgia and Ukraine in NATO is a red line and that it will not be approved. According to the then Russian ambassador, membership of Ukraine or Georgia in NATO would be considered a direct declaration of war on Russia. This opinion is still shared by almost the entire elite [of the Russian Federation]. The latest warning was issued for Christmas 2021. If there are no negotiations on security guarantees, then no one will sit idly by either. According to Stoltenberg, war could have been avoided if Ukraine's neutrality had been agreed upon. But that opportunity was missed too
– the same Milli Vanilja also writes.
So-called security guarantees and neutrality have never saved us from despots
– Hopeakettu responds to the post above.
Here in the West, there are many analysts who themselves are quite versed in the issues, but what is the use of them if the results of the analysis cannot be used in any way. Let me guess how it will be: if Russia achieves its goal of subjugating Ukraine and then begins to soften relations with the West, then the Franco-German axis and others like it will again forget about the need to arm themselves and set out to prepare the next “treat” for Russia - be it Moldova, The Baltic states or even Finland. Greece in ancient times was also a democracy - perhaps the first of its kind - but failed to respond to the Persian invasion and instead suffered a humiliating defeat and much human suffering. Exactly the same signs are in the air between Europe and Russia - the smarter side seems to be constantly ahead of the dumber side
– laments DI M.Sc.
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