Le Figaro: What is the strength of the European army against Russia?

French Le Figaro newspaper, reported that the French Institute of International Relations reviewed an in-depth study titled “Europe and Russia: Assessing the Balance of Power,” which reveals the military differences between Russia and the 30 European NATO members.

The study puts Europe in front of a fateful question:

Can the old continent confront Russia if an open war breaks out?

Military spending: Russia allocated about 13 trillion rubles ($145 billion) in 2024, but when purchasing power is calculated, the figure reaches $460 billion, which is roughly equivalent to the total spending of European countries in NATO.

Ground forces: Russia is numerically superior by 950,000 troops compared to Europe’s 750,000, with a clear difference in political readiness and combat capability, while Europe suffers from shortages of artillery, drones, and troop transport infrastructure.

Air Force: Europe has more than 1,500 fighter jets compared to less than 1,000 for Russia, with qualitative superiority in technology and operational readiness, despite the continued need to strengthen ammunition stockpiles and air defenses.

Navy: Europe has three times as many Russian surface ships, but Russia is making up for it with a strong submarine fleet that poses a direct threat.

Military space: Russia has inherited a huge fleet of satellites, but its obsolete and affected by sanctions, while Europe has a Galileo navigation system that is superior to Russia’s GLONASS.

Nuclear deterrence: Russia is a nuclear superpower with 1,700 strategic warheads ready, while Europe relies on expanded US deterrence, supported by the arsenals of France and Britain.

Any defect in the US nuclear umbrella could leave Europe in a dangerous confrontation with Moscow.