With America stepping back, Europe faces a terrifying question: Can it defend itself against Russia alone? From military shortages to broken alliances, here’s why the continent isn’t prepared for what’s coming.
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Sources:
Foreign policy: https://foreignpolicy.com/2025/02/18/europe-defense-ukraine-trump-vance-munich/
Economist: https://www.economist.com/briefing/2024/02/18/can-europe-defend-itself-without-america
Telegraph: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025/02/13/can-europe-defend-itself-from-russia/
NYTimes: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/01/25/world/europe/nato-europe-defense-spending.html
Kyiv Independent: https://kyivindependent.com/eu-to-produce-2-million-artillery-shells-in-2025-new-defense-commissioner-tells-media/
IJ4EU: https://www.investigativejournalismforeu.net/interview-the-empty-promises-of-europes-artillery-build-up/
Atlantic Council: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/europe-must-prepare-to-defend-itself-in-an-increasingly-multipolar-world/
Hudson Institute: https://www.hudson.org/security-alliances/nato-not-ready-war-assessing-military-balance-between-alliance-russia-can-kasapoglu
Economist: https://www.economist.com/leaders/2025/02/20/how-europe-must-respond-as-trump-and-putin-smash-the-post-war-order
European Security and Defense: https://euro-sd.com/2025/01/articles/42257/just-in-time-is-dead-how-european-manufacturers-are-gearing-up-for-land-warfare/
Financial Times: https://www.ft.com/content/beb38eb8-408c-4cdb-8086-77545d52099f
APSI: https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/how-europe-can-pay-for-rearmament/
Carnegie: https://carnegieendowment.org/europe/strategic-europe/2025/02/taking-the-pulse-is-the-transatlantic-relationship-at-a-breaking-point?lang=en
Atlantic Council: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/econographics/whos-at-2-percent-look-how-nato-allies-have-increased-their-defense-spending-since-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/