Radulovic: European military capabilities and support for Ukraine key topics in Ankara

Military analyst Vlade Radulovic told Kosovo Online that the NATO summit in Turkey will address a range of issues, but that defense spending by the Alliance's European members, the expansion of military production capacity, and continued support for Ukraine will be the key topics.

"Those are not the only issues, and they entail many others. Although an agreement has been reached on allocating five percent for defense, under the three-and-a-half plus one-and-a-half formula for supporting infrastructure, the question is no longer whether we can agree on the money, because we have committed to finding it. The real question is how quickly we can translate that into operational capabilities for the armed forces," Radulovic said.

He noted that this includes opening new production facilities, converting certain civilian production lines into military ones, acquisitions, and capital investments in companies, particularly major manufacturers such as Rheinmetall.

"If we were to sum it up in one sentence, the question is how quickly and efficiently Europe can make up for potential shortfalls when considering the level of US engagement in Europe," Radulovic said.

According to him, the United States will insist on a clear agreement, particularly because of the situation in the Middle East and the lack of European assistance during the war in Iran.

Radulovic emphasized that the meeting between US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House served as a prelude to the summit, outlining the main issues that will be discussed in Ankara.

"When it comes to Ukraine, I do not think we should expect anything groundbreaking. It will simply reaffirm continued and consistent support for Ukraine in terms of defense during the war," he said.

Regardless of tensions between Europe and the current US administration, Radulovic noted that there is growing recognition in Europe that it will no longer be able to rely on the United States for its defense as it has over previous decades.

"They have to invest in their own capabilities and think about their own armed forces," he said, adding that the "new reality" in Washington has prompted Europe to strengthen its defense.

Radulovic said that the United States will not leave NATO, but that it is reassessing its relationships and increasing pressure on Europe.

"Two questions are hanging in the air: whether we can expect the implementation of occasional announcements about withdrawing US troops from Europe and closing military bases, and, on the other hand, whether the United States will continue to view Europe the way it has for decades," the analyst said.

According to him, the Western Balkans will be discussed in a broader context, but the primary focus will remain on Ukraine and the Middle East.

"Do not forget that we still have two flashpoints here. If we exclude Ukraine, there are two flashpoints across the entire European continent, and both are in the Balkans. One is Kosovo and Metohija, and the other is Bosnia and Herzegovina," he explained.

Speaking about the Balkans, Radulovic said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to use the summit being held in his country to demonstrate that, in conventional terms, the Turkish military is the Alliance's strongest armed force after that of the United States.

"Turkey sees itself as a Balkan country, and it is unrealistic to expect there will be no discussion about what is happening in its own neighborhood. However, I would focus on the two key topics. According to all indications, the outlook for Europe as a continent is not encouraging, and 2030 is increasingly being mentioned as a turning point. When I speak with Europe's largest defense companies, it is clear that their production capacities are fully booked for at least the next three years," Radulovic concluded.