March 24th, which just passed, is the 25th anniversary of NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia.
On the same day, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a noticeable announcement, pointing out that the bombing of Yugoslavia by the United States and its NATO allies 25 years ago destroyed the European security foundation after World War II, and their guilt has not yet been forgotten.
Tass news agency: The announcement said, "No NATO official has been punished for this, but they just decided to call the victims of aggression ‘ Incidental loss ’ That is, when realizing the geopolitical ambition of the United States ‘ Associated ’ The loss. The issue of NATO allies’ responsibility for damaging international relations and this country is still unresolved. "
In connection with the ongoing Ukrainian crisis provoked by the United States and NATO led by it, it is natural for the outside world to interpret more meanings about NATO’s guilt from Russia’s position.
Intriguingly, after the outbreak of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Serbia, one of the main successors of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, has been bullied and lured by the West to take sides on the issue of "opposing Ukraine and controlling Russia". But Serbia resisted the pressure.
Just earlier this month, Serbian President Vucic told reporters that western countries are trying to defeat Russia by pursuing a comprehensive militarization policy, which is "a crazy thing that is happening now".
Screenshot of the Tass news agency report (the picture shows Vucic)
European economy turns to "crisis mode"?
Facts have proved that what Vucic said is true.
In response to the "Russian threat", NATO members in Europe are increasing their military spending.
Borrell, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, issued a document on 25th local time, saying that the military budgets of EU member states increased by 50 billion euros between 2022 and 2023 due to "the drastic changes in the international situation".
EU External Action Agency official website screenshot
Nevertheless, there is still a gap between this and NATO’s requirement that military expenditure should reach 2% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of each member country.
According to the latest research by the Iff Institute of Economics in Germany, the European member countries of NATO still need to increase an additional 56 billion euros every year to meet the standards. "In the case of weak economic growth and fiscal tightening in many countries, this has increased the budget pressure."
Screenshot of the Financial Times report
But in order to meet the standards, Europe is also fighting.
According to the current fiscal discipline of the European Union, the annual deficit of each member state should not exceed 3% of GDP and the debt should not exceed 60% of GDP.
However, according to the Financial Times, in order to facilitate Italy, Poland, Baltic countries and other member countries with relatively high debt and deficit levels to increase their budgetary expenditures, including military expenditures, the EU has agreed to reform the fiscal rules that have been implemented for 20 years, allowing EU countries to "adjust more flexibly" when the deficit is too high.
Therefore, in the future, the European Commission will regard military expenditure as a "reduction factor" when evaluating whether to take action against member States that break through the annual deficit ceiling.
No wonder the U.S. government, which has been urging Europe to increase its defense spending, recently "praised" the EU countries for their "progress" in meeting the military expenditure standards.
Screenshot of the Financial Times report
According to the 2023 annual report released by NATO recently, as of last year, the military expenditure of NATO’s European member countries increased by 11% year-on-year, maintaining the growth trend for the ninth consecutive year.
The report also shows that the military expenditure of 11 NATO member countries reached 2% of their GDP last year. It is estimated that by the end of this year, two thirds of the 32 NATO members will reach or exceed this level.
Screenshot of NATO official website Report
Just recently, Norway became the latest European NATO member to say that it will achieve the 2% military expenditure target this year, one year ahead of schedule.
Bloomberg report screenshot
Some Eastern European and Baltic countries, as Depth Charge, are particularly active.
Poland’s military expenditure this year will exceed 4% of its GDP, which is also the highest level among NATO members.
Because of the new financial regulations of the EU, this practice, which originally violated the EU’s financial discipline, will no longer be restricted in the future.
In the words of Polish Foreign Minister Sicorschi, "We are moving in the right direction … … In view of the fact that the Russian economy is already in wartime, the economies of European countries need to at least turn to crisis mode. "
Bloomberg social media screenshot
"For us, this has become a war."
In the fiery atmosphere where NATO countries are busy preparing for the war, the "cloud of sending troops", which originated from French President Macron, continues to ferment.
Macron, once regarded as the largest "peacemaker" in Europe, has been insisting on his "theory of sending troops" on different occasions since he first openly talked about the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine when he hosted the International Conference in Support of Ukraine at the end of February.
The latest statement of French military leaders also echoed Macron’s remarks.
Burkhard, chief of general staff of the French army, said after a meeting with the Swedish Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, that the western support for Ukraine "may exceed the supply of weapons" and that "Europeans must be able to take risks to ensure the security of Europe in the next decade".
AFP report screenshot (the picture shows Macron shaking hands with Burkhard)
French Army Chief of Staff Schill also published a signed article in Le Monde, France, saying that France can mobilize an army of 20,000 people within 30 days and has the ability to command the French and allied troops of 60,000 people.
"The French army should be prepared for the most difficult action."
Screenshot of the French newspaper Le Monde
In this regard, Medvedev, vice-chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, posted a message on social media warning that after Macron and others said that France had no "red line" in aiding Ukraine, Russia also had no "red line" in its relations with France.
Medvedev also wrote in Latin: "All means can be taken against the enemy."
Medvedev social media screenshot
Although France has always denied that it has sent troops to Ukraine, and NATO members including the United States and other western countries have distanced themselves from Macron’s remarks for the first time, according to the latest revelation made by Polish Foreign Minister Sicorschi in an interview a few days ago, western troops in Ukraine have become an "open secret".
Coincidentally.
Matthew Huo, a former official of the State Council in the United States, also bluntly said in an interview recently that there are NATO and American military personnel in Ukraine, including special forces, CIA personnel, contractors, mercenaries and suppliers. In this way, the United States and western countries conceal their military personnel input in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and will never admit it.
Data map: Matthew Huo
In the face of the aggressive western sword-throwing, the Russian official’s wording on the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has also escalated, which has aroused widespread concern from the outside world.
Peskov, Russian Presidential Press Secretary, said in an interview a few days ago that Russia’s special military action in Ukraine "has turned into a war for us" when the western collective stood on Ukraine’s side and participated in the conflict.
Screenshot of French 24-hour news channel report
