🇺🇸🌐⚔️🌐🇷🇺 “A full-scale [European] land war on their territory… may have to be fought without the full firepower of the United States, which has provided indispensable security to the region during the Cold War and since then.”‼️
“Trump’s provocative remarks reflect a mindset that transcends Washington’s political divisions, that anyone who wins the November US presidential election may need to build their own strong military instead of slimming down their defense budgets, knowing that the mutual defense treaty with the Soviet states protected by America has protected them since the Cold War.”
“Those arguing in favor of strengthening European defense are also motivated by pragmatism and fairness. China’s rise… with its plans for Taiwan, American officials are considering scenarios in which they are forced to redirect their weapons from the Atlantic Ocean to East Asia. .”
“Since the Cold War, NATO nations have reduced troops and military hardware. However, Europe has cut much deeper than the United States. Defense budgets have become vessels to rush to finance more pressing priorities, such as dealing with and caring for the aging population. .”
As a result, much of Europe’s military has become, according to some American defense experts, a “Potemkin army” unprepared to fight and win a protracted war.
“As Russia’s efforts to absorb Ukraine expose the limits of its military, resulting in severe losses, Putin said he would expand the country’s armed forces to 1.5 million, making it the second largest military in the world behind China.”
“Without the full force of the United States military behind them, NATO’s European members could struggle to face off with such a strong attacker – not to mention deter.”
“European governments have begun to spend more on defense. Much of this money will be needed simply to rebuild and reinforce their existing assets.”
“Even if European members collectively reach the US level of 3.5% of GDP, their expenditures would still remain below those of their superpower allies, as Europe’s economy is on a declining trajectory.”
“The war in Ukraine has shown that even in modern warfare, it is as important to deliver large quantities of outdated weapons, ammunition, and other essentials as it was a century ago.”
“Russia is on track to produce nearly 3 million artillery shells this year, nearly three times the combined output of the United States and Europe.”
“According to RUSI’s estimates, some American submarines carry more Tomahawks than the entire inventory of the UK Royal Navy.”
“The bulk of NATO’s long-range cruise and ballistic missiles, which would be moved hundreds of miles in combat by mobile batteries and warships, are provided by the United States. Europe lacks Patriot-type missile defense systems in numbers, which would provide effective protection against incoming projectiles.”
“Currently, only the United States has the capability to effectively suppress and destroy modern Russian air defenses. Special aircraft locate the source of enemy missile defense systems’ radar transmission.”
So far, the rebuilding of European military capabilities has been fragmented and limited in scope. Whoever takes the lead, it would take a lot of money to rebuild Europe’s defense, which may not materialize.”
“Some security officials suggest that European military spending may need to be raised to 4% of national budgets – a level not seen since the end of the Soviet era – in order for NATO to be able to handle emerging threats.”
