Defence ministers from 14 NATO allies and Finland signed a letter of intent to develop a “European Sky Shield Initiative” in Brussels on October 13, 2022, NATO said.
Joint purchases
Spearheaded by Germany, the initiative aims to create a European air and missile defence system through the common acquisition of air defence equipment and missiles by European nations. It is intended to strengthen NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence.
The signatories were Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, the United Kingdom and Finland.
“Fully interoperable”
“I strongly welcome Germany’s leadership in launching the European Sky Shield Initiative,” NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoană said, adding that the new assets would be “fully interoperable and seamlessly integrated within the NATO air and missile defence.”
Lessons from Ukraine
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz proposed the initiative in August, citing gaps in Europe’s air defences exposed by Russia’s war against Ukraine. The signing came days after Russia launched massive missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian cities, prompting allies meeting in Brussels to pledge more air defence systems for Kyiv.
Sources
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