European countries are preparing to unveil plans for a $4.3 billion Iron Dome air and missile defense system, Poland’s prime minister announced Monday.
Donald Tusk told Polish broadcaster AVN that the proposal, which involves the cooperation of 21 countries, would be presented to the European Council in a few days, the Kyiv Post reported.
The European Sky Shield Initiative, or ESSI, is designed as a way to jointly acquire interoperable ground-based air defense systems.
“The recent attack on Israel showed how essential such systems are. There is no reason why Europe should not have its missile shield,” Tusk said, according to The Telegraph.
“Creating an iron dome against missiles and drones is necessary,” he added.
In a not-too-subtle reference to Russia, Tusk also said it doesn’t take much imagination to understand where a potential attack on Europe could come from, the Telegraph reported.
Israel’s Iron Dome has long been considered one of the world’s most advanced air defense systems, protecting the country’s skies from rockets and other projectiles.
In April, Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones against Israel, which Israeli air defenses almost entirely brought down, with the help of American and British forces.
Although a direct Russian attack on NATO Europe is not considered an immediate likelihood, many countries – particularly those bordering Russia – are deeply alarmed. Many are also increasing their defense spending in ways unimaginable before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The ESSI was first mooted by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in 2022, shortly after Russia began bombarding Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure with rockets. Since then, Germany has led this project.
In July 2023, Austria and Switzerland – two traditionally neutral states – signed the initiative, and in February this year the number of countries increased to 21, with the participation of Turkey and Greece.
German think tank SWP outlined in a report last year some of the systems the German government is seeking to buy or rebuild under ESSI. These include the US-made Patriots, the IRIS-T SLM – a short- and medium-range system capable of targeting drones, aircraft and cruise missiles – and the long-range Arrow system currently used in Israel.
The SWP also noted that while it considers a Russian attack on NATO countries unlikely in the immediate future, “improved air and missile defense in Europe could limit the coercive power of the Russia vis-à-vis NATO and thus strengthen the cohesion of the alliance. “
Although Tusk himself champions the ESSI, he has faced challenges from Polish President Andrzej Duda, who has opposed its membership on the grounds that the country already has its own joint air defense agreements with the United States and the United Kingdom.
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