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Why we believe in Europe’s defense and security

Lest we forget … Armistice Day commemorations remind NATO allies of the need to work together.

Earlier this month, millions of people took part in poignant ceremonies across the globe to remember the moment when the guns fell silent at the end of the First World War. Why is it important to commemorate events like the end of the First World War?

History matters. The solemn ceremonies that took place on 11 November, marking the centenary of the end of what was immediately afterward deemed the “war to end all wars”, were a reminder of the huge sacrifice that so many made to defend freedom. Nearly 10 million soldiers laid down their lives — and the death toll among civilians was even higher. The armistice remembrance gathered representatives from powers that had fought against one another but now stand together as friends and allies. They included the United States (U.S.) and Canada, two countries from the other side of the Atlantic, who heeded the call of their European partners, and who remain irrevocably connected to them, thanks to the NATO alliance.

The U.S. is pushing NATO allies to spend more on defense. What is your view?

This is not the first U.S. administration to ask our European allies to spend more on defense. Both former presidents Barack Obama and  George W. Bush made the same call to action. The NATO guideline for member countries to spend 2 percent of their GDP on defense by 2024 was originally set in 2014. So, well before President Trump came to office, NATO’s European members had already committed to shouldering their fair share of the burden. And the situation is changing for the better. Now, all NATO members’ defense budgets are either holding steady or rising. In 2016, we finally reversed a downward trend among NATO’s European allies and Canada, with average spending rising compared to the previous seven years.

French President Emmanuel Macron has talked about creating a European army and urged Europe to develop its own military capabilities, buying European-made materials. Chancellor Angela Merkel echoed him in the European Parliament. Is Europe drifting away from the U.S. on defense?

It is absolutely right that Europe thinks about its own defense priorities. President Macron has spoken candidly about the need for the EU to have its own capacities. He has been clear about the potential threats from Russia and China, and many other European politicians are placing defense further up the policy agenda. Yet we believe this re-focus should not imply isolation or opposition towards non-EU NATO members such as the U.S., Canada or Norway. The role of the European pillar within NATO is growing, and France is a key player in this development. However, NATO remains the most-recognized forum for broader strategic decisions and coordination among allies. Therefore, is it not about Europe doing it alone, but rather about Europe strengthening its capacity to do more. And building that capacity is not about favoring U.S. or European companies, it is about ensuring that our troops have the best and most combat-ready equipment. This commitment to our armed forces is also why Raytheon has worked closely with European companies, especially smaller and medium-sized firms, for decades. We team up with the most innovative companies on both continents to ensure that we have the best technology available for our forces. Our responsibility to the men and women who keep us safe is what matters in defense and we will continue to work with our European partners for advances that help our militaries.

How can EU countries combine their NATO defense commitments with their broader plans for European security and defense cooperation?

There may well be missions or projects that are pursued by the EU rather than NATO. But duplication is timely and costly. It is important that EU priorities do not compete with NATO’s. Both the EU and NATO recognize that they need to work closely to ensure cooperation, complementarity and interoperability. NATO has agreed that the EU can draw on its assets and capabilities, thus ensuring that the EU offers only value-added solutions to the allies’ defense.

Where should Europe prioritize its defense spending?

Prioritization should be done by the EU and its member nations. We have been following the recent debates in Europe on this issue with great interest. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker emphasizes an important consideration when he warns about the many different weapons systems across the EU, which can result in duplication and less value for money. For example, the U.S. has one type of main battle tank, while Europe has 17 different types. That doesn’t mean that everything needs to come from one single supplier, but Europe can and should work to consolidate its patchwork of systems. EU defense cooperation can create cost-effective synergies.

Why do we need these defense systems?

We rightly celebrate the end of the First World War, reconciliation after the Second World War and the end of the Cold War. But today we still face multiple threats around the world. They include acts of terrorism, continuous Russian aggression against its neighbors and the rise in hybrid warfare, where the use of big data, artificial intelligence and cyber expands the traditional military arsenal. These new security challenges, posed by state and non-state actors, are serious. We should also remember that the vast majority of Europeans want better defense. Eurobarometer polling shows that citizens want a “Europe that protects”. This is why NATO just held the Operation Trident Juncture in Norway, its biggest training exercise in years, gathering 50,000 participants from 31 nations. These exercises and defense systems, such as Raytheon’s Patriot Air and Missile Defence Systems*, are all about strengthening the readiness of Europe’s defense and security to protect its citizens.

How important is Europe and the transatlantic industrial cooperation for Raytheon?

As a company headquartered in the U.S. with business in more than 80 countries, Europe is a critical partner and supplier for us. We work together with many European SMEs to develop defense systems that protect millions of people across the Continent. We have a long history of industrial cooperation in Europe, built up over almost a century. Our footprint in Europe includes four manufacturing centers, 24 offices and several joint ventures with partners across the region. We help drive local innovation and create thousands of jobs across the region. We believe in the strength of the transatlantic partnership and we plan to continue to do our part in building up Europe’s defense and security.

 

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*Raytheon’s Patriot Air and Missile Defence System is a missile defence system consisting of radars, command-and-control technology and multiple types of interceptors, all working together to detect, identify and defeat tactical ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, drones, advanced aircraft and other threats.

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