In the defense-military aspect, Ukraine is superior to the 13 NATO member countries, including the Baltic States, Hungary, Slovakia and Norway.
This "Observer" was told by the chairman of the All-Ukrainian public organization "Ukraine in NATO", member of the Atlantic Council of Ukraine Yuri Romanyuk.
"In the military-military terms, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the special forces of the Security Service and the Ministry of Internal Affairs in total exceed the military potential of at least 13 NATO member countries, that is, almost half," he said..
In support of his words Romanyuk cited such figures. "If all our listed operating forces to base just 200 thousand soldiers, Ukraine corresponds to the military, military and defense capabilities, at least in such countries: Albania (army 20,000, funding 1.47% of GDP), Belgium ( 34 thousands of 1.05%), Denmark (23,000, 1.41%), Estonia (5500, 2.0%), Iceland (0, 0.13%), Latvia (5500, 0.92%), Lithuania (13,500, 0.97%), Luxembourg (0900, 0.6%), Norway (29,000, 1.4%), Slovakia (26 000, 1, 12%), Slovenia (9000, 1.18%), Hungary (33,000, 0.83%), Montenegro (2000, 1.74%) - which is similar to total 200 thousand combatants in, "- said the expert.
According to him, Ukraine exceeds the total potential of these 13 states "on the assortment of types of weapons and their number," "even if to add to this list a candidate for NATO membership - Macedonia".
"In individual comparison, Ukraine is second only to 6-8 of the 29 NATO member countries," including the United States, Britain, France, Turkey, Germany, Italy, and "possibly Greece and Spain," he added..
At the same time, Ukraine's defense spending is "5 +" percent of GDP, "Romanyuk recalled.. "Of course, this is only a digital expression that does not reflect the real ratio of the GDP of these countries and the meager GDP of Ukraine, where we lose at times. But our 5% of GDP on defense relatively successfully oppose the invader's armada of Russia on the four flanks of Ukraine's perimeter, "he said..
Romanyuk also reported that the military-industrial complex of Ukraine is developing defense systems that "can design units of the world", including "rocket and space systems, tactical and ballistic missiles, operational-tactical missiles, aircraft, aircraft carrier ships, Tanks, APCs, several different air defense systems, radar stations, high-precision missile weapons, multiple rocket launchers and t. - in a closed loop! ".
According to the expert, "the war in the Donbas has changed and modernized the Ukrainian army beyond recognition. The real three-year combat experience and defense skills in a hybrid war are incomparable with the experience of the vast majority of NATO member countries ".
As Romanyuk is convinced, "Ukraine has long fulfilled the conditional criteria of the NATO Membership Action Plan".
"Undoubtedly, the Ukrainian army has shortcomings, problems, inconsistencies, lag, conservatism and other. But the Armed Forces are a living organism that is constantly being modernized in response to challenges and threats. I am convinced that Ukraine is ready to join NATO in all aspects.
Stop only for the political will and consensus of all 29 member countries of the Alliance, "Romanyuk said..
As the "Observer" wrote, former deputy chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Lieutenant-General Igor Romanenko said: the adoption of a law allowing Ukraine to become a member of NATO is an extremely important step; Despite the difficult situation in the country, today it is a "working one", and should not become an obstacle to gaining membership.
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