The Wall Street Journal: Can Europe confront Russia without US support?
The Wall Street Journal stated that while Europe collectively has strong and well-equipped military forces, it remains heavily dependent on US support for intelligence, air defense, and command infrastructure.
According, Daniel Michaels, the WSJ correspondent in Belgium, “although the Russian military has been weakened by the war in Ukraine, its ability to quickly rebuild itself poses a persistent long-term threat”.
Michaels continued in his report, “If American support diminishes further than its now, Europe will face significant challenges in defending itself and must therefore invest heavily in its defense capabilities”.
He cited the decline in US presence as evidenced by the absence of US forces from NATO training last month.
Despite some weaknesses, Michaels emphasized that Europe’s combined military power is formidable.
The continent has 1.97 million active troops, surpassing Russia’s 1.34 million.
Europe also has a superiority in basic equipment, with 32,700 armored vehicles compared to Russia’s 10,700, 2,200 artillery units compared to Russia’s 1,400, and 2,100 combat aircraft compared to Moscow’s 1,100.
Despite this numerical superiority, Europe’s reliance on US support for intelligence and air defense poses a major challenge and is the weakest link in European defenses, according to the report.
The report stated, “NATO has intensified its military training, seeking to focus on collective defense. Last year, 90,000 troops, 80 aircraft, and 1,100 combat vehicles participated in the alliance’s largest exercise since the Cold War… This year, 100 military exercises are planned to enhance the readiness of European forces”.
According to retired US General Philip Breedlove who told the WSJ that the Russian army was severely exhausted after three years of war and was being destroyed by Ukraine, which he described as smaller and less well-equipped.
According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Russia has lost approximately one in five aircraft it has sent into combat, while Europe is actively investing in modernizing its fleet and is expected to have more than 500 F-35 fighters by 2030.
The Wall Street Journal warned that despite Moscow’s heavy losses in equipment and materiel, it’s still capable of quickly rebuilding its military, a concern for European officials.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that the European defense industry is still too small, too fragmented, and too slow to make up for the shortfall in military equipment.
The report explained that, given growing concerns about the absence of the United States, European leaders are seeking alternatives to bolster their defenses independently, and closing military gaps will require massive investments in the coming years.
