by Trevor » Wed Apr 24, 2024 5:59 pm
Russia's military might have improved somewhat, but they paid a horrific price in the process. Nor have they managed to achieve a massive breakthrough like Ukraine 2022 counteroffensive and their initial invasion. This is despite cutting aid for months, and claims of imminent collapse.
Much of the fear I'm seeing in NATO circles is the prospect of the United States abandoning them to their own devices. We've been protecting them for several decades, to where most have never known anything else. Even without us, however, they're more than capable of defending themselves, possessing an economy and industry far stronger than Russia's. They're dangerous, but aren't anywhere near the juggernaut the Soviet Union was.
The issue is: without U.S. leadership, they struggle to formulate a united response. More nations are spending 2% of GDP than was the case even a couple years ago, but far too many aren't. I'd even suggest 3%, given Russia's all in on this war. For nations like Spain, Portugal, and Italy, Russia's a distant worry, so their efforts on rebuilding their defense industry are minimal. Only a few nations, like Poland and Finland, are taking the sorts of steps necessary. Their militaries have atrophied for three decades, and it's going to take time to rebuild, time they might not have. Ukraine's going to be in ruins regardless, but if they act quickly, there's still time for them to avoid suffering the same fate.
Russia's military might have improved somewhat, but they paid a horrific price in the process. Nor have they managed to achieve a massive breakthrough like Ukraine 2022 counteroffensive and their initial invasion. This is despite cutting aid for months, and claims of imminent collapse.
Much of the fear I'm seeing in NATO circles is the prospect of the United States abandoning them to their own devices. We've been protecting them for several decades, to where most have never known anything else. Even without us, however, they're more than capable of defending themselves, possessing an economy and industry far stronger than Russia's. They're dangerous, but aren't anywhere near the juggernaut the Soviet Union was.
The issue is: without U.S. leadership, they struggle to formulate a united response. More nations are spending 2% of GDP than was the case even a couple years ago, but far too many aren't. I'd even suggest 3%, given Russia's all in on this war. For nations like Spain, Portugal, and Italy, Russia's a distant worry, so their efforts on rebuilding their defense industry are minimal. Only a few nations, like Poland and Finland, are taking the sorts of steps necessary. Their militaries have atrophied for three decades, and it's going to take time to rebuild, time they might not have. Ukraine's going to be in ruins regardless, but if they act quickly, there's still time for them to avoid suffering the same fate.