Trump's envoy slams Europe for weak NATO readiness, urges stronger deterrence against Russia

Richard Grenell, the US presidential envoy for special missions, has criticized the West’s strategy to deter Russia, asserting that it has failed due to European countries' lack of combat readiness and inadequate military preparedness.

Grenell emphasized that Europe must be ready to confront any security threats and ensure that credible deterrents are in place to prevent Russian aggression, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"We need to make sure Europe is prepared, that it has some sort of security guarantee, or at least a credible threat, to deter Russian action," he stated.

Grenell recalled that, in 2014, the US and NATO set a ten-year timeline for European nations to bolster their military capabilities, with a target date of 2024 for ensuring a strong, cohesive defense infrastructure across NATO members. However, he criticized European countries for failing to meet these objectives, thereby weakening NATO’s overall deterrence posture. "They didn’t do it," he said, referring to the lack of progress in meeting military readiness goals.

The former envoy also called out European allies for undercutting NATO’s effectiveness by failing to adequately fund and prepare their armed forces. "How many times do we have to warn Europe?" Grenell asked rhetorically. "If you want to be a member of NATO, then you should be a good member of NATO. Don’t undercut NATO by not being prepared. Start paying up and have a real military," he added, underscoring the need for European nations to contribute meaningfully to the alliance’s defence capabilities.

Grenell’s comments come amid ongoing tensions between Russia and the West, with NATO’s credibility and readiness under scrutiny as the alliance continues to navigate its role in the current geopolitical landscape. His remarks highlight ongoing frustrations regarding Europe’s military commitment to the collective defence strategy and the urgency for stronger deterrence measures against Russian expansionism.

By Vafa Guliyeva