Lieutenant General Steven L. Basham, Deputy Chief of the United States European Command, recently asserted that the Western defense industrial base will continue gaining traction until eventually surpassing Russian production capabilities. Basham also confirmed that Moscow’s growth has been sustained at the expense of its economy, with assistance from Iran and North Korea.
Speaking at the event “Transatlantic Security after 75 Years of NATO” organized by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Lieutenant General Basham expressed that the capabilities of the Western defense industry “…are accelerating. It will continue to accelerate beyond Russia’s capacity. The time Russia is spending in Ukraine is also time for us to position our industrial base where it needs to be…” stated the American officer.
Since the onset of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Western industrial base has been under severe scrutiny due to the reduction in capabilities it has suffered in recent decades, a situation attributed to various factors, including political ones. Despite Basham’s words, Europe, the US, and allied countries are still far from having the infrastructure to meet the current demand, which has escalated due to conflicts in Ukraine and Israel.
“…Russia, a country that used to pride itself as a defense exporter, now seems to be importing a large amount not only of equipment but also of technology. And much of that technology is coming from China…The challenges Russia faces with its own equipment are being offset by China…” affirmed the Deputy Chief of EUCOM.
Regarding the effort Washington has been making in support of Kyiv, Basham stated that “…Our nation’s defense starts well beyond the borders of the United States…All Ukraine is asking for is our unwavering, consistent, and continuous support. I believe that’s exactly what they’re getting right now. We have to stay that course. And I think we have to explain it much better to the American people…”.
It’s worth noting that US military assistance to Ukraine was paused for several months, releasing only some emergency packages. This pause not only reflected on industry demand but also had a severe impact on the battlefronts, severely limiting Ukrainian capabilities. However, with the recent approval of $60 billion in assistance, it is hoped to reverse the complex situation in which Ukraine’s defenses find themselves.
Lieutenant General Basham spoke about the importance of defending NATO, stating that “…Make no mistake. No matter how this ends in Ukraine, Russia will not stop with Ukraine unless they are stopped in Ukraine…The United States, its allies, and partners are growing stronger and standing up to Russian aggression…”.
Another aspect he highlighted was the presence of US military personnel and assets in Europe, “…presence matters…You have to be with your allies to be able to integrate. You have to be with your allies to campaign, to exercise. And, by the way, it can’t just be episodic…” he said, in relation to the US commitment to NATO.
Basham also addressed the challenge posed by China, noting that, like Russia, Beijing is a global threat, including its malign influence in Europe, especially in space and cyber domains.
Cover image illustrative. Credits: U.S. Army – Chad Menegay
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