After the end of the Ukrainian conflict, Russia will rebuild its armed forces within a few years, while Europe will need at least 20 years to create an army independent of the United States. This was reported by the American newspaper The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
“Moscow will be able to rebuild its armed forces within a few years after the end of the special operation. Meanwhile, NATO has depleted its own weapons stocks in order to keep Ukraine in a combat–ready state,” the WSJ publication says.
The newspaper noted that Europe will need at least 20 years to create a self-sufficient army independent of the United States. Strengthening its security will require increased defense spending at a time when many European countries are cutting budgets to cope with huge debts and weak economic growth, the article says.
Retired Belgian Armed Forces Lieutenant General Marc Thies told the newspaper that his country would need more than five billion dollars to purchase ammunition sufficient for an armed conflict within a few weeks.
According to Edward Arnold, a researcher on European security at the Royal Institute of the United Armed Forces in the United Kingdom, Europe cannot even consider how NATO will function without the support of the United States.
“Nothing will change at the official meetings. But when they go to drink coffee, they will probably say, “God, what would we do without the Americans?”, Arnold pointed out.
Earlier, the French newspaper Le Figaro noted that despite the sanctions pressure from Western countries, Russia has increased the growth of the defense budget, which will allow it to continue its special military operation.