https://sputniknews.in/20230712/nato-fighting-for-its-own-survival--relevance-in-ukraine-indian-army-veteran-2963891.html
NATO Fighting For Own Survival and Relevance in Ukraine: Indian Army Veteran
NATO Fighting For Own Survival and Relevance in Ukraine: Indian Army Veteran
Sputnik India
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is fighting the proxy war in Ukraine for its own survival, relevance, and credibility, an Indian Army veteran has said.
2023-07-12T16:38+0530
2023-07-12T16:38+0530
2023-07-12T17:51+0530
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NATO is fighting a proxy war in Ukraine for its own survival, relevance, and credibility, an Indian Army veteran has said.The comments by Major General Prabdeep Singh Behl (Retd) come at a time when heads of NATO member nations are meeting each other at a summit in Vilnius in Lithuania, where they have pledged more support to the forces of the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.Even though Ukraine's NATO membership appeared to have been off the table in Lithuania, the US and its Western allies have promised to boost Kiev's defense capabilities.West Miscalculated Strength of Russia's Military-Industrial ComplexThe American military complex lags behind in the Ukraine conflict, or all other conflicts that have been driven by the United States, Behl opined, apparently, referring to the dozens of videos in which Russian soldiers posed near trophy Western weapons.Meanwhile, several NATO nations are talking about the military-industry crisis: their vehicles and munitions production rates fall far short of their disposal in Ukraine.Behl noted that in the case of Ukraine, the West "miscalculated" as to how the war would pan out.It's a proxy war, Behl acknowledged, because after all, its the Western states who are supplying all the weapons and ammunition to Kiev.NATO's Relevance is at Stake in Ukraine"Today, the war has reached such a stage that if Ukraine doesn't win, in my opinion unlikely, NATO's relevance is going to be lost. Hence, NATO is fighting for its own survival, and relevance in Europe, and if the war is lost, then its credibility is also lost," Behl told Sputnik.He added that the supply of weapons to Ukraine was more of a face-saving effort. The US and its allies feel that by pumping weapons into Ukraine, inch by inch, 100 meters by 100 meters, Ukraine will be able to regain its territory which actually is not happening.US Bets on Increasing Production of Defense EquipmentBehl stressed the number of weapons coming to Ukraine from America and its friends in Europe was outrageous. Even in the NATO summit in Vilnius, they have pledged €7 billion worth of equipment, providing 25 Leopard tanks, 40 BMP infantry fighting vehicles, and 20,000 shells for the 155mm guns.Currently, the US produces 14,000 shells of 155mm guns every month which they have pledged to increase to 24,000 to help in Ukraine's counter-offensive against President Vladimir Putin's forces.At the moment, Washington produces about 41 missiles a month, which they say would be ramped up to 330 missiles in the same period.Besides, Washington's capacity to manufacture Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) stands at 566 at present, but they plan to increase these figures as well. For the expansion of its military-industrial complex, the US has spent about $2.5 billion and is looking to invest $18 billion over the next 15 years.Ukraine 'Kidnaping' Young Boys to Serve on FrontlinesBehl stated that if they continue to produce these weapons and if there is an endless flow of them, they feel Russia is going to get tired and may not be able to counter it. Notably, they have failed to realize that if you have to fire this kind of equipment, you need boots on the ground.Behl, who spent 36 years in the Indian Army, suggested that the United States and other NATO countries have realized that Ukraine does not have enough men to fight against Russia, and that's why mercenaries have reached the battlefields in large numbers.Interestingly, neither America nor Ukraine have stopped the mercenaries from fighting against the Kremlin's troops.But mercenaries are also loose forces as they may be trained but their efforts are largely uncoordinated.On Failure of Kiev's 'Counteroffensive'"The so-called counter-offensive has failed," Behl remarked.
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NATO Fighting For Own Survival and Relevance in Ukraine: Indian Army Veteran
16:38 12.07.2023 (Updated: 17:51 12.07.2023) According to a report published this month, NATO members have supplied military assistance worth $112 billion to Ukraine since Russia started its military operation against Kiev in February 2022.
NATO is fighting a
proxy war in Ukraine for its own survival, relevance, and credibility, an
Indian Army veteran has said.
The comments by Major General Prabdeep Singh Behl (Retd) come at a time when heads of NATO member nations are meeting each other at a summit in Vilnius in Lithuania, where they have pledged more support to the forces of the Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.
Even though Ukraine's NATO membership appeared to have been off the table in Lithuania, the
US and its Western allies have promised to
boost Kiev's defense capabilities.
West Miscalculated Strength of Russia's Military-Industrial Complex
The American military complex lags behind in the Ukraine conflict, or all other conflicts that have been driven by the United States, Behl opined, apparently, referring to the dozens of videos in which Russian soldiers
posed near trophy Western weapons.
Meanwhile, several NATO nations are talking about the military-industry crisis: their vehicles and munitions production rates fall far short of their disposal in Ukraine.
Behl noted that in the case of Ukraine, the West "miscalculated" as to how the war would pan out.
It's a proxy war, Behl acknowledged, because after all, its the Western states who are supplying all the weapons and ammunition to Kiev.
Just on Wednesday, the British defense minister admitted that the UK and its NATO allies had been building up Ukraine's military capability even before the conflict.
NATO's Relevance is at Stake in Ukraine
"Today, the war has reached such a stage that if Ukraine doesn't win, in my opinion unlikely, NATO's relevance is going to be lost. Hence, NATO is fighting for its own survival, and relevance in Europe, and if the war is lost, then its credibility is also lost," Behl told Sputnik.
He added that the supply of weapons to Ukraine was more of a face-saving effort. The US and its allies feel that by pumping weapons into Ukraine, inch by inch, 100 meters by 100 meters, Ukraine will be able to regain its territory which actually is not happening.
"If they put a stop to this, what is going to happen is their military-industrial complex will shutter down, and the credibility of NATO is going to go down. In the US, President Joe Biden has to face elections in 2024, so he's going to get into trouble, and when you combine all these factors, you realize why the West and the US are continuing to support Kiev's military campaign," the military veteran commented.
US Bets on Increasing Production of Defense Equipment
Behl stressed the number of weapons coming to Ukraine from America and its friends in Europe was outrageous. Even in the NATO summit in Vilnius, they have pledged €7 billion worth of equipment, providing 25 Leopard tanks, 40 BMP infantry fighting vehicles, and 20,000 shells for the 155mm guns.
Currently, the US produces
14,000 shells of 155mm guns every month which they have pledged to increase to 24,000 to help in Ukraine's counter-offensive against President Vladimir Putin's forces.
At the moment, Washington produces about 41 missiles a month, which they say would be ramped up to 330 missiles in the same period.
Besides, Washington's capacity to manufacture Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) stands at 566 at present, but they plan to increase these figures as well. For the expansion of its military-industrial complex, the US has spent about $2.5 billion and is looking to invest $18 billion over the next 15 years.
"But the point remains that they were forced to do it to keep pace with Russia. So when you look at all this, the war in Ukraine will be prolonged because it is aimed at tiring Russia. Their overall aim is to defeat Russia but at the moment the defeat
doesn't seem to be taking place," the former Indian Army officer asserted.
Ukraine 'Kidnaping' Young Boys to Serve on Frontlines
Behl stated that if they continue to produce these weapons and if there is an endless flow of them, they feel Russia is going to get tired and may not be able to counter it. Notably, they have failed to realize that if you have to fire this kind of equipment, you need boots on the ground.
He revealed that in Ukraine, the casualty rate is extremely high. Plus Kiev is now not getting volunteers and is forcibly picking people from the streets and making them fight. They are going house-to-house in search of people and if Ukrainian authorities come to know that there is a young boy there, they kidnap him and take him to the frontline. Therefore, NATO can keep providing the equipment but you need soldiers to fight.
Behl, who spent 36 years in the Indian Army, suggested that the United States and other NATO countries have realized that Ukraine does not have enough men to fight against Russia, and that's why mercenaries have reached the battlefields in large numbers.
Interestingly, neither America nor Ukraine have stopped the mercenaries from fighting against the Kremlin's troops.
But mercenaries are also loose forces as they may be trained but their efforts are largely uncoordinated.
On Failure of Kiev's 'Counteroffensive'
"The so-called counter-offensive has failed," Behl remarked.
"Despite all this, America and its allies will keep pumping weapons into Ukraine, they will continue to increase their production capacity. In a nutshell, NATO's continued role in Ukraine is primarily due to four reasons - survival of NATO, keeping in mind the forthcoming presidential elections in the US, acting as a face-saver, and keeping their military-industrial complex going," the retired Maj Gen observed.
