Professor Carlo Masala from the University of Munich stated that politicians and military leaders often assume that the defense industry will manage to produce enough in time. In reality, this takes much longer.
Masala said: "If our goal is 2029, we have not yet made sufficient progress." European countries currently lack the necessary industrial base for rapid production of tanks, aircraft, and ships.
NATO General Ingo Gerhartz mentioned that the alliance is moving in the right direction, but readiness for crises must be immediate. He added: "We need to be ready today, not just in 2029."
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur discussed how elections in major countries and internal political issues create uncertainty. He said: "If I were in the Kremlin, I would not wait until 2029. We must be ready now."
Purchasing weapons is complex because prices are rising rapidly. Pevkur said: "Things we bought two years ago are now 50–60% more expensive."
Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže stated that Russia's behavior has not changed. She added: "Putin has not abandoned his goals. We must be ready."