Kateryna Chernoval 02:42, 03.04.26 UNIAN
Europe now finds itself in a new geopolitical reality, the article says
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has been going on for five years, but there are still doubts about Europe’s ability to contain Moscow .
The Atlantic Council argues that Europe has the resources to do so. However, the response to Russian aggression is still hampered by problems such as political disunity and a lack of urgency.
“The numbers speak for themselves. Russia’s nominal GDP is estimated at around $2.5 trillion. At the same time, the combined GDP of the European Union, the United Kingdom and Norway is over $20 trillion.
Taken together, European defense budgets also significantly exceed Russia’s, although some studies indicate that Moscow’s growing military spending may now exceed Europe’s in purchasing power parity terms,” the author emphasizes.
The article states that Ukraine has taken measures to sharply increase the production of drones, reduce procurement deadlines, etc. At the same time, in Europe, a significant part of defense planning is focused on long-term goals. Although the author noted that a number of significant steps have been taken to expand the production of artillery shells.
Tensions are rising in transatlantic relations
Since Donald Trump returned to the White House, it has become increasingly clear that the United States wants to rethink its role in European security. It is widely recognized that Europe cannot remain as dependent on the United States as it has been in the past.
“In achieving this goal, Europe should not limit itself to matching Russia’s arms production in wartime. Instead, the goal should be to mobilize European resources to the extent of providing overwhelming advantage.
The appropriate benchmark is not parity with Putin’s war machine, but a much more ambitious expansion of the overall potential of the defense sector, capable of deterring any future Russian aggression,” the material says.
And Ukraine can play an important role in this process, says the author. European countries should perceive Kyiv as a partner with large production capacities and operational experience. And a number of countries are already investing in Ukraine’s defense sector or creating joint ventures. Kyiv is opening export hubs and production facilities in the defense sector throughout Europe.
Europe finds itself in a new reality
As the author writes, Europe now finds itself in a new geopolitical reality. Today it is shaped by an expansionist Russia and a US administration that is no longer prepared to guarantee the continent’s security. Despite the recognition in European capitals of the need to transition to a much more self-sufficient security strategy, actual action is still uneven.
“Europe must strive to build a broader consensus on security priorities that will allow it to expand the continent’s defense industrial base, secure supply chains, and increase production capacity without delay.
The resources to make this transformation happen are there. The question is whether European leaders can act before the window of opportunity narrows even further and they face an even stronger and more assertive adversary in much less favorable conditions,” the Atlantic Council concludes.
With 10x the economy as Moskovia, Europe should not let the aggressor state outspend them militarily and then complain when Americans don’t run to help them. But when it comes to the mutual enemy, Moskovia, Europe and the US should work together…but Europe doesn’t have much to offer after years and years spending perhaps 1% GDP when the US has been around 4%.