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Germany, 13 NATO states set to create Europe’s more sophisticated air defenses — media

It is reported that Europe’s current air defense system experiences certain problems with protection against ballistic missiles, as well as drones and cruise missiles

BERLIN, October 13. /TASS/. Germany and 13 NATO member states signed a declaration on creating Europe’s more sophisticated air defense system, the DPA news agency reported on Thursday.

On the sidelines of a meeting of NATO defense chiefs in Brussels, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht and her counterparts signed a declaration on the so-called European Sky Shield Initiative. The move aims to fill gaps in Europe’s current air defense system, the news agency reported.

Europe’s current air defense system experiences certain problems with protection against ballistic missiles, as well as drones and cruise missiles. The creation of the integrated air defenses aims to respond to changes in the current situation caused by the latest developments in Ukraine. Until now, Europe’s air and missile defense system was primarily intended to fend off potential threats from Iran, DPA reported.

The signing ceremony was attended by representatives from Belgium, Bulgaria, Czechia, Finland, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom. As diplomats said, Estonia also wants to take part in the project.

In a speech at Charles University in Prague on August 29, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced the intention jointly with European neighbors to create a new air defense system in the European Union.

As the German chancellor said, the new system developed by joint efforts "would be beneficial from the standpoint of security for the whole of Europe." He stressed that the system would be cheaper and more efficient than decisions at the national level.

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