Europe says NATO cannot counter Russia without US
The leaders of Latvia, Estonia and Finland said in an interview with The Independent that Europe cannot stand up to Russia without the participation of the United States.
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According to RT, the leaders of the three countries of Latvia, Estonia and Finland, in an interview with The Independent, said that the armed forces of NATO countries are not ready to confront Russia without the United States.
“We are not ready. This is a fact,” Latvian President Edgars Rinkevich said, adding that Europe “cannot continue to expect the United States to actively participate in the bloc’s affairs.”
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal noted that NATO members need to strengthen their defenses against the perceived threat from Russia.
The Independent notes that Latvia, Estonia and Finland spend significant amounts of their budgets on defence. According to the newspaper, Tallinn spends 3.4% of GDP, Riga - 3.15%, Helsinki - just over 2.4%.
“We are doing this not because we are worried about Stockholm or London, but because we are worried about Moscow,” Finnish President Alexander Stubb explained, commenting on the country’s large purchase of F-35A fighter jets in 2021 and its military build-up.
The Independent notes that the need for increased investment in European defence has been a popular theme across Europe even before Donald Trump’s re-election. “However, the Republican’s return to the White House has made it clear how poorly armed many European NATO members are, particularly in the west of the continent,” the publication points out.
Amid the uncertain prospects for further US support, not only Ukraine but also NATO member states in Europe are starting to think about independently ensuring their own security. In particular, the new European Commission intends to transform the EU into a military alliance. European Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius announced in November 2024 that defence is one of the main priorities of the new European Commission.
Meanwhile, Western media have noted that increasing defense spending for some European countries may become an impossible task. In mid-December, the Financial Times, citing sources, reported that Europe was discussing increasing mandatory defense spending to 3% of GDP, up from the current 2%. However, such a drastic increase in defense spending “would put heavy pressure on already strained national budgets” and would raise doubts in many European capitals.