Europe must create its own Israel-style Iron Dome to protect against missile and drone attack, the prime minister of Poland has said.
Donald Tusk said he and other leaders would propose plans for the £3.4 billion European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI) to the European Council and Commission “in a few days”.
“Creating an iron dome against missiles and drones is necessary,” he said on Monday.
“The recent attack on Israel showed how essential such systems are. There is no reason for Europe not to have its missile defence shield.”
The Iron Dome was crucial in ensuring Iran’s April attack on Israel, with about 300 missiles and drones, caused no significant damage.
Mr Tusk said Europe was in a danger zone, just like Israel. He said it did not take much imagination to work out where an attack could come from, in a veiled reference to Russia.
In November 2022, a missile struck a Polish village close to the Ukrainian border, killing two people.
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@PassionateFrogDemocrat2yrs2Y
Much as it grieves me to agree with Donald Tusk, he is probably right in this case.
It is even more true for the UK. We can never face vast numbers of tanks and soldiers rolling over a long land border and we would have to be attacked by sea or air. Despite all the recent discussion and bluster about conscripting men and women to create a reserve force, our defence won’t depend on large numbers of conscripted troops with rifles, but on a modern, comprehensive anti-everything missile system.
@UrchinJonnyPatriot2yrs2Y
What's the point of a sky shield if land borders are incredibly open? Physical attacks are likely to come from within, either alone, or as a coordinated attack from sleeper cells.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
Do you think investing billions in missile defense systems is a good use of a country's resources, or could the money be better spent elsewhere?
@9MMYQNH2yrs2Y
It should be spent on more important internal issues.
@C4mpaignCrowRepublican2yrs2Y
It's weird how it is possible to intercept things flying at hundreds and even thousands of miles per hour through the sky - yet an inflatable boat full of immigrants at 2-3 mph can leave France undetected and show up at Dover without being intercepted. The UK should have things in place to stop both but let's start with the easy one.
@ISIDEWITH2yrs2Y
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