Netherlands Air Chief Urges Europe to Prepare for Self-Defense Without U.S. Support
Lieutenant General André Steur, the Commander of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, has called on NATO’s European allies to prepare for independent defense in the event that the United States withdraws its troops from Europe.
Speaking at the Air Chiefs Conference in London, as reported by Breaking Defense, he emphasized the need for NATO to thoroughly evaluate and understand the potential vulnerabilities that could emerge if the U.S. decides to redeploy critical military assets from Europe to the Indo-Pacific or other regions.
“The current shortfall within the alliance will significantly worsen if the U.S. has to increasingly focus on current and future events in the Indo-Pacific region,” Steur said.
He also called for a “thorough review” of NATO’s defense planning objectives, especially the “investments” in command and control capabilities, cyber systems, fifth-generation fighter jets, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as long-range weapons and tankers (refuelers).
“First and foremost, deep pockets filled with ammunition are needed,” he said, “because numbers really do matter in the world we live in.”
Additionally, the lieutenant general stated that the Alliance “must avoid focusing solely on building Fortress Europe” by concentrating forces and military assets on the eastern flank. In his view, continuing this approach risks losing “agility and flexibility” in future conflicts.
To address this challenge, André Steur emphasized the need to “remain unpredictable and maintain the ability to strike anytime and anywhere, just in case Russia invades not the Baltics, but elsewhere.” He highlighted the threats posed by Russia.
Steur stated that the future need to “support allied efforts” in Africa, the Indo-Pacific region, or the Middle East requires a “balanced force mix that can ensure the Alliance’s security and combat evil worldwide.”
The Netherlands Air Chief expressed deep concern over the lack of attention to NATO’s approach to “360-degree warfare.” He also advocated for strengthening the air power capabilities of NATO member states.
NATO Sees Threats
Recently, Gen. Tod D. Wolters, Commander, U.S. European Command and NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, stated that NATO must prepare for a two-front war by 2027, facing both Russia and China.
He also emphasized that Alliance countries must keep pace with the rate of innovation and modernization in their armed forces, as demonstrated by the Ukrainian military.
