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2025-02-22 Europe
EU lacks 300,000 troops to defend itself without US, study shows
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited.
[Regnum] If the EU countries decide to ensure their own security without US assistance, they will need to mobilize about 300,000 troops. This is stated in a joint study published on February 21 by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW) and the Brussels consulting company Bruegel.

"Europe will have to create about 50 additional brigades with a total of 300,000 soldiers. This will require at least 1,400 new tanks and 2,000 infantry fighting vehicles. <…> In addition, it will be necessary to produce about 2,000 long-range drones every year," says the material published on the IfW website.

The study also showed that at least €250 billion per year would be needed to expand the armed forces. To achieve this, the total defense spending of EU countries would have to be 3.5–4% of GDP, rather than 2%, as it is now. As an example, the researchers reported that Germany would have to spend €140 billion instead of €80 billion if its military spending increased to 3.5% of GDP.

Co-author of the analysis and senior research fellow at IfW, Professor Guntram Wolff, said that such expenditures are needed to prepare for a potential war with Russia. The reason for the build-up of armed forces in the EU was that Russia has significantly strengthened its army in recent years, as well as increased defense production.

"Russia may have enough military power to attack EU states within the next three to ten years," Wolf said.

As reported by the Regnum news agency, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in May 2024 that the EU leadership was preparing for war with Russia. According to him, on instructions from Brussels, the media began to shape the corresponding moods in the countries of the union.

On 22 January 2025, European Commissioner for Defence Andrius Kubilius stated that the EU was facing an existential threat, allegedly coming from Russia. He called for preparing for war within the next five years and mobilising all financial resources for this.

On January 15, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on EU countries to prepare for war and increase defense spending. Otherwise, he said, in five years Europeans would have to learn Russian or move to New Zealand.

In June 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin called statements about a possible Russian attack on Europe nonsense. He noted that anti-Russian propaganda is used to justify the arms race. The head of state added that the deterioration of relations with a number of European countries was not Moscow's fault.
Posted by badanov 2025-02-22 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11150 views ]  Top

#1 I no longer care what happens to Europe.

Fascism from Europe vs Russia is now a "distinction without a difference".

Once they *fix* the German elections, it will be obvious.
Posted by Crusader 2025-02-22 00:14||   2025-02-22 00:14|| Front Page Top

#2 How many military age migrants did they take in this year?
Posted by Skidmark 2025-02-22 01:08||   2025-02-22 01:08|| Front Page Top

#3 At least. And it will get fewer and fewer as their demographics collapse.
Posted by DarthVader 2025-02-22 01:26||   2025-02-22 01:26|| Front Page Top

#4 Does Russia plans to conquer Western Europe?
Posted by Grom the Affective 2025-02-22 02:43||   2025-02-22 02:43|| Front Page Top

#5 They don't get their act together, in five years it won't be Russian they'll have to know.
Posted by swksvolFF 2025-02-22 09:47||   2025-02-22 09:47|| Front Page Top

#6  Does Russia plans to conquer Western Europe?

Nah, they will stop at the Dniepr river. Besides, that would be like winning a contest where 2nd Prize was two Western Europes. Who needs the headache!
Posted by SteveS 2025-02-22 10:03||   2025-02-22 10:03|| Front Page Top

#7 
Posted by badanov 2025-02-22 14:03||   2025-02-22 14:03|| Front Page Top

#8 Eldest son said in the FOB he was in, the Germans were useless, weren't allowed to patrol after dark, carry loaded weapons in field, wouldn't get out of the APC's on patrol.
OTOH, the Norwegians were some the hardest guys he ever met. One Norge troop set an ambush by lying on the bottom of a mountain lake in a wetsuit with his rifle in a bag, breathing through a straw.
Worked, too.
Posted by ed in texas 2025-02-22 14:33||   2025-02-22 14:33|| Front Page Top

#9 ^ very cool.
Posted by Skidmark 2025-02-22 16:55||   2025-02-22 16:55|| Front Page Top

#10 Yes well, certain things about the Norse counties make some nervous.

Telmark Battalion "Til Valhall!
Posted by Silentbrick 2025-02-22 17:19||   2025-02-22 17:19|| Front Page Top

#11 Ed worked with the Danes and Poles. Some of the most hard charging fuckers I ever met. Right up there with the Brits.
Posted by DarthVader 2025-02-22 18:26||   2025-02-22 18:26|| Front Page Top

#12 Albanian SF at Spin Boldak, AFG in 2011. "No contacts, no problems." (note the Albanian flag on the whip and the 12.7 mm DShK mounted on the MRAP).

Posted by Besoeker 2025-02-22 19:02||   2025-02-22 19:02|| Front Page Top

#13 Does Russia plans to conquer Western Europe?

It already has to deal with enough Muslims of its own.
Posted by Procopius2k 2025-02-22 19:06||   2025-02-22 19:06|| Front Page Top

13:45 3dc
13:40 NoMoreBS
13:36 Old Salty
13:34 Regular joe
13:20 Lord Garth
13:17 ed in texas
13:05 Elmomoter Mussolini9149
13:01 Procopius2k
12:45 swksvolFF
12:23 swksvolFF
12:18 Elmomoter Mussolini9149
12:09 Elmomoter Mussolini9149
12:07 swksvolFF
12:04 swksvolFF
11:51 Phererong Whavique2804
11:40 Old Patriot
11:22 Jay Jay
11:16 Grom the Affective
11:16 YT255
10:54 Procopius2k
10:43 badanov
10:25 3dc
10:21 3dc
10:19 BrerRabbit









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