NATO Supports European Patriot Missile Deal

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Facts

  • The North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) announced Wednesday that it will back a contract agreement between several European members and COMLOG — a joint venture between the defense manufacturers Raytheon and MBDA — to acquire up to 1K Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missiles (GEM-T).1
  • NSPA said the GEM-T is the 'primary effector' of the Patriot air defense system, which the organization claims eight European nations are reliant on. NSPA further stated that the agreement 'demonstrates the strong cooperation among Patriot allies' under the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI).1
  • The NSPA names Germany, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain on the list of European nations that will benefit from the Patriot missiles, which are used to counter cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and military aircraft.2
  • Commenting on the contract, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that he 'welcome[d] the Allies' timely announcement,' adding that that the deal highlighted the 'strength of transatlantic defense cooperation' in light of 'Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian civilians, cities and towns.'3
  • NATO members have previously delivered Patriot defense systems to Ukraine, with the organization stating its commitment to 'further bolstering Ukraine's defences.' NATO said the contract with COMLOG, which is based in Schrobenhausen, Germany, will be worth $5.5B.3
  • On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that Russia had fired 500 missiles and drones at the country in five days, including a Jan. 2 attack on Kyiv that lasted for six hours.4

Sources: 1Nspa, 2Independent, 3NATO and 4BBC News.

Narratives

  • Pro-Ukraine narrative, as provided by The Messenger. Patriot defensive systems are expensive and, though effective in response to Putin's bombardment of Ukrainian citizens, will not win Ukraine the war. Zelenskyy and Ukraine must receive offensive equipment, such as artillery, fighter jets, and deep strike weapons, if the West is to prevail over the Kremlin. Defensive assets such as the Patriot system are certainly welcome, but will not liberate Ukraine alone.
  • Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by RT International. While the West continues to send supplies to Ukraine, the volume of such deliveries is decreasing and the weapon stores are drying up, thus handing Russia an inevitable win in its special military operation. Futile support of Ukraine only heightens the risk of direct conflict between NATO and Russia, rather than increasing the chance of a victory for the West.
  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by CTVNews. As a defensive organization, the procurement of non-lethal defensive systems such as the Patriot missile is the furthest that NATO can go to provide security in Europe in light of the war in Ukraine. As the conflict nears its two-year anniversary, NATO's support of European military purchases may provide greater opportunities for allies of Ukraine to free up and allocate further resources to repel Russia's illegal behavior.

Predictions