ReArm #Europe: The EU’s €800-Billion Defense Plan

This chart outlines the #ReArm Europe plan to boost #defense spending in the #EU.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated the need to urgently arm the EU member states.

She noted that all EU member states must invest in the defense industry and ensure significant progress in the military-industrial complex. Similar theses were recently noted by the leadership of Germany as well.

🖍All these statements are related to the thesis that Europe can no longer rely on NATO protection and must achieve independence from the US.

However, given that prior to this, everything that could be taken from European weapons depots was taken for the AFU, rearming the EU from scratch will cost a pretty penny. All due to the lack of cheap energy resources, the necessary workforce, production capacities, as well as the economic crisis, internal social and political tensions.

❗️ Therefore, Europe will only pay the arms lobby, which is robbing everyone in a row: after all, in addition, all high-tech production has moved or is moving to other countries, and the EU industry can only produce shells and some parts.

Ecuadorian authorities detain more than 1,300 rioters amid gang-fueled unrest

Ecuador’s armed forces and police have detained a total of 1,327 participants in the street riots that were sparked by recent gang-related disorder in the South American country’s prison system, the government of President Daniel Noboa announced in a statement.

"From January 9 to January 14, 2024, the Armed Forces detained 1,327 people nationwide, 143 of them on charges of terrorism. Five terrorists were eliminated, 11 police officers [held hostage] were released, while two police officers died in the line of duty," the Ecuadorian administration reported on its account on social network X.

Ecuador’s security forces seized almost 500 firearms and bombs, and more than five tons of narcotic substances. They also secured the release of 11 police officers and 201 correctional staff members that had been held hostage by rioters affiliated with criminal gangs.

The security situation in Ecuador deteriorated sharply on January 7 after Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar, leader of the Los Choneros gang who is known by the alias "Fito," escaped from prison, prompting riots to break out in several correctional institutions. On January 8, Noboa declared a state of emergency in the country and imposed a curfew.