Russia Vs European NATO nations
There is much talk at present about Europe needs to prepare for war with Russia. How there might be conscription. How in the event of war parts of European industrial base might be converted to military production.
This concern would probably seem surprising to an observer unfamiliar with atavistic Western concerns going back to the Soviet threat during the Cold War, equipped only with an understanding of the mathematics and economics of military power. As explained by The Telegraph, Russia’s economy is fairly small, only around 85 per cent of the size of Italy’s. Its population of about 140 million is less than that of Germany plus France combined. It has been unable to defeat Ukraine – a country that when Russia invaded was the world’s 53rd largest economy, below New Zealand and Peru.
Even if a future US lost all interest in protecting Europe, should we really fear Russia could defeat the combined European forces?
Could Europe stop a Russian invasion without the help of the US and its military?
Even if the US pulls out, Moscow would be crazy to start something, Eric Wicklund, former US Navy Operations Specialist, explains on Quora;
A snowflake’s chance within a blast furnace
‘Versus just the European NATO nations, Russia would stand a snowflake’s chance within a blast furnace.
‘Just looking at Russia’s military performance in Ukraine gives you the answer.
- In 3 years of war, and over 800,000 casualties, Russia controls a piddling 20% of Ukraine. European nations (total) have far more territory.
- European NATO nations wouldn’t have restrictions about hitting targets deep within Russia. Bye bye, oil depots…on day one.
- European NATO nations wouldn’t still be buying Russian oil a year into the conflict. That would stop…on day one.
- Against European NATO, Russia’s aviation wouldn’t go up against 80s Soviet tech (and fail to achieve air superiority). Russia would be facing Typhoons, Gripens, Rafales, and F-35s, armed with long-range Meteor missiles.
- European nations have more advanced hardware…they already have it…they don’t have to wait for somebody else to dither around for months, or years, before finally sending it.
- European nations have already trained on their more advanced hardware. There’s no waiting for months until crews have been trained to read controls in a foreign language, and understand a decades newer system.
- European NATO nations actually have navies. Russia couldn’t defeat a country without a navy!
‘Russia entered combat with Ukraine with nearly every conceivable military advantage (except training, competent military leadership, and logistics expertise), and has managed to repeatedly fumble the ball in the ongoing war.’
Wicklund concludes;
‘If they couldn’t beat Ukraine, they certainly couldn’t defeat Poland…alone, or Finland…alone, and certainly not all the European NATO nations!’
Photo credit: Staff Sgt. Alexander Cook / U.S. Air Force, LPhot Daniel Shepherd/MoD Crown Copyright and Russian Air and Space Force
