NATO AWACS unit suggests US warplanes on new euro banknotes

Key facts

NATO unit: Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWACS) Force
Proposed design: US-made Boeing E-3 Sentry and F-16s on euro notes
ECB survey: Public survey on new euro banknote designs
Shortlist: Historical figures (Marie Curie, Leonardo da Vinci, Ludwig van Beethoven) and native European birds
Survey deadline: Late September
New notes circulation: 2030 or 2031

Background

The European Central Bank is currently deciding how its next series of euro banknotes will look, and has opened a public survey on possible designs. Shortlisted themes include historical figures such as Marie Curie, Leonardo da Vinci, and Ludwig van Beethoven, as well as native European birds.

In the meantime, NATO's Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWACS) Force posted a tongue-in-cheek suggestion on its Facebook page: put images of American military hardware on the new notes. The post showed a US-made Boeing E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft flying over European fields and forests, with what appear to be two American F-16s accompanying it on the €20 note.

"What if the new European banknotes had a little more...air superiority?" the NATO unit asked in its caption. The post was meant as a joke, but the image of American air superiority over Europe echoes the original purpose of NATO, which its first secretary-general described as keeping "the Russians out, the Americans in, and the Germans down."

Current situation

NATO's Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Force followed suit, posting a series of notes featuring an American RQ-4D Phoenix surveillance drone. The posts drew mixed reactions online, with some commenters objecting to the American hardware and suggesting European alternatives.

"A Boeing on a EURO banknote? No, thank you. Please redesign with a Saab Globaleye. It's at least half European," one commenter replied to NATO AWACS on Instagram. Self-described 'Eurasian sovereignist' Mats Nilsson called the posts a "coordinated NATO psy-op trying to tie NATO to the EU."

The proposed notes have no chance of being printed. The ECB's public survey closes in late September, and a winner will be chosen by the end of 2026. The new notes are scheduled to be printed and circulated in 2030 or 2031.

Eurozone and NATO membership overlap
Category	Count	Details
Eurozone countries not in NATO	4	Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, Malta
NATO members not using euro	15	Out of 32 NATO members
NATO total members	32	As of source data

Figures from the source article.

Who may be affected

The ECB's design decision will affect everyone who uses the euro, as the new banknotes will replace current ones across the eurozone. The survey allows the public to weigh in on the final look of the currency.

The NATO posts highlight a structural overlap between the EU and NATO. Four Eurozone countries - Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, and Malta - are not members of NATO, while 15 of NATO's 32 members do not use the euro. This means any design tying NATO to the EU would not represent the full membership of either bloc.

The online reaction shows that some Europeans are sensitive to the perceived American influence in European institutions. However, the ECB's actual shortlist does not include any military themes, so the NATO suggestion is unlikely to influence the final design.

Future outlook

Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.

If the ECB follows its current survey process, the new euro notes will feature either historical figures or native birds, with a final decision expected by the end of 2026. The notes would then enter circulation in 2030 or 2031.

If the NATO posts are seen as a serious attempt to influence the design, they could spark further debate about the relationship between NATO and the EU. However, given the ECB's stated shortlist, the military-themed notes are unlikely to be adopted.

The outcome of the survey remains uncertain, and the ECB could still introduce unexpected design elements. The final choice will depend on public input and the ECB's internal decision-making process, which has not been fully disclosed.

Source: iranherald.com

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