Plan for £3.4bn Israel-style Iron Dome to defend Europe against missile attacks

21 May 2024 , 20:58

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Poland's prime minster called for Europe to be protected against threats posed by its enemies (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Europe must develop its own version of Israel's Iron Dome to defend the continent from missile and drone attacks, Poland's prime minister has urged.

Donald Tusk backed proposed plans to develop the European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI). He said he and other European leaders would back the plans and present it to the European Council and Commission "in a few days". The Iron Dome protected Israel from a missile onslaught from Iran and has defended the country from attacks from Hamas.

Israeli counter-rockets destroyed an overwhelming majority of the projectiles that had been fired with the intention of overpowering its defences. "Creating an iron dome against missiles and drones is necessary," Tusk said on Monday, according to The Telegraph. "The recent attack on Israel showed how essential such systems are. There is no reason for Europe not to have its missile defence shield."

Donald Tusk called for Europe to have its own Iron Dome (AFP via Getty Images)

Tusk warned Europe is facing threats similar to those experienced by Israel and said it would not take a lot of imagination to consider where an attack could come from, a not-so veiled reference to Russia. Russia's president Vladimir Putin has made numerous threats against not only Ukraine but its allies with his propaganda outlets even pondering on whether the UK could be targeted.

Poland, which neighbours the Russian exclave of Kalingrad, has increased its defence spending to about four per cent of its GDP. The move came following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which also borders Poland. The EU and NATO member added it would invest an estimated £1.7 billion into security along its borders with Russia and Moscow's ally Belarus. Tusk recently met Denmark's prime minister Mette Frederiksen over the project led by Germany.

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Israel's Iron Dome protected the country against Iran's missile attack (Xinhua/REX/Shutterstock)

He claimed she "responded positively to my proposal for Poland to join a European project that will effectively build a dome to protect our sky”. Berlin set up the ESSI initiative with 15 NATO members, including the UK in 2022. While Poland is pushing to join the project, Andrzej Duda, the country's president, could block membership. Duda is a key figure in the country's Law and Justice party which has a poor relationship with Germany's leaders.

Anders Anglesey