NATO General Laubenthal: Europe must expand defense industry and learn from Ukraine war agility
German NATO General Markus Laubenthal calls on Europe to significantly boost its domestic arms production and adapt to modern warfare, emphasizing the need to mass-produce cheap drones and learn from Ukraine's rapid adaptability.
General Markus Laubenthal, Chief of Staff at NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, has urged Europe to become more self-reliant in defense to strategically relieve the United States. In an interview, he stressed the need for a massive expansion of Europe's domestic arms industry, including licensed production of systems like Patriot missiles.
Laubenthal commented on recent NATO decisions at the Ankara summit regarding new reconnaissance systems and brushed off former US President Donald Trump's remarks on Greenland, noting the alliance's increased presence in the Arctic.
Most notably, the general highlighted lessons from the war in Ukraine. He pointed to the extremely fast adaptability in modern warfare, where both sides rapidly evolve tactics. Laubenthal argued that NATO must learn this agility, especially the mass deployment of cheap drones against expensive high-tech air defense systems.
