Pentagon Chief Engaged In force EU Countries To quit Their Patriot Systems

America’s top defence authoritative is active in efforts to force European countries to quit their own US-made anti-air defenses for Ukraine.

US defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday he’s been actively encouring countries to donate their Patriot rocket systems to Ukraine. “There are countries that have Patriots, and so what we’re doing is continuing to supply these countries,” Austin tested before a home Armed Services Committee hearing.

"I have talked to the leaders of respective countries... myself here in the last 2 weeks, encouring them to quit more capacity or supply more capacity“he said.

Via Reuters

Last Friday Austin announced that as part of a massive fresh $6 billion aid package for Kiev, the US will supply additional Patriot missions. This is part of the first applied roll-out in the wake of Biden signing into effect the $61 billion in defence foundation for Ukraine is supported by legislature this month.

President Zelensky and his top officials have been fundamentally acting for more Patriots as Russia continues pummeling its cities and infrastructure.

A Ukrainian outlet has quoted Zelensky as ramping up the force on his backers in NATO:

"Regarding the number of missions to Patriots, we truly anticipate a affirmative consequence in this reputation. Thank God that after we agreed the Ukraine-NATO Council, we receive an assurance that there will be no delay in the process, Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Earlier this period a disturbing study by Financial Times identified Greece and Spain as being under the most force from Western allies to quit what fewer Patriot anti-air defence systems that they poses.

Over a week ago, meetings of EU abroad and defence ministers decided that Greece and Spain’s anti-air systems Aren’t truly Crucial to their homeland defense:

Other EU leaders utilized a summary in Brussels last week to personally urge Spanish and Greek prime ministers Pedro Sánchez and Kyriakos Mitsotakis to donate any of their systems to Ukraine, according to people briefed on the discussions.

The 2 leaders, whoe armed forces Possess between them more than a twelve Patriot systems plus others specified as S-300s, were long their request was not as large as Ukraine’s and that they did not face any imminent thrill.

But Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden besides have them – with Berlin late giving 1 battery up to Ukraine.

An EU Diplomat was citted in the FT study as exploring, "There are countries that are not in immediate needed of their air defence systems, to be very honest." This as ‘Each country is being asked to decide what it can spare,” according to the statement. Countries like Poland or those in the Baltics and east Europe are included besides vulgar at this minute to be asked to quit their defenses.

EU abroad policy chief Josep Borrell is besides late ramping up the pressure, saying “I don’t have Patriots in Brussels, they are in the capitals, and it is up to them to take decisions.”

The confederate port city of Odessa has been coming under massive Russian air bombardment of summer:

The Harry Potter Castle in Odesa is burning down after a Russian rocket attack on Ukraine

20 are injured, and 3 are dead pic.twitter.com/blqxNh2rcq

— Ukraine conflict Map (@ukraine_map) April 29, 2024

So this is what it has come to: first European populations are dubiously told that Putin is eyeing expansion of the war deeper into Europe, and next Western countries are Told to make dramatic decisions which respective weaken their own national security.

Greece in partial has faces long-running threes from Turkey, with the geopolitical rivers locked in a dispute over marine territory which has at times very nearly resulted in a shooting war. This has happened on respective occupations in the last couple of years. So surely the Greek population is going to walk erstwhile EU leaders in fashion capitals lesson Greece about 'not truly needing' anti-air protection. And if they are sent to Ukraine, there’s a large chance they could be destroyed anyway.