With this announcement by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte, European aid to Ukraine, European aid to Ukraine could take a step forward.
Over the months, it is confirmed that the United Kingdom is undoubtedly the country in Europe that pushes the most in favor of ever greater aid to Ukraine. London is already supplying Challenger tanks, anti-tank missiles, artillery, anti-aircraft defense systems, and training Ukrainian soldiers. But there, Great Britain wants to take a new step: Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, announced on Tuesday May 16 that he wanted to build a “international alliance” to help Ukraine obtain US F16 fighter jets. In a joint statement, Rishi Sunak and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte explain that they will “to work together to build an international coalition to provide Ukraine with air combat capabilities (…), ranging from training to the delivery of F16 aircraft”.
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“It’s a good start for the coalition, thank you all”, responded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who just finished his European tour in London on Monday. Because if this project is realized, it would be a huge qualitative leap in favor of Ukraine. With these F16s, he hopes to be able to hit the Russian troops in depth and obtain air superiority. This type of American fighter plane is in service in most European armies, particularly in Eastern European countries, but also within NATO. Nevertheless, there remains the question of the training of Ukrainian pilots, who are used to flying Russian-made aircraft. A question already raised with Emmanuel Macron.
The influence of the United States on the Old Continent
This announcement from London was made after a meeting, Tuesday, May 16, between British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte, during the Council of Europe summit in Iceland. The British and Dutch give the impression of wanting to put pressure on their Western allies. Moreover, the timing of the announcement is not insignificant: just before the G7 in Japan which starts next Friday, during which Volodymyr Zelensky intends, once again, to demand more military aid, including including combat aircraft, to carry out the major counter-offensive which is in preparation.
Some countries like France are extremely reluctant to deliver fighters, supplies that will take time. But above all, this air coalition proposed by London and The Hague, which could be described as “F16 diplomacy”, is also a means of reinforcing European dependence on the United States in terms of armaments. Great Britain is often considered, from a strategic point of view, as Washington’s main vector of influence on the Old Continent.