Europe says NATO cannot counter Russia without the 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 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 US.
“We are not ready. This is a reality,” said Latvian President Edgars Rinkevich, 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 defense capabilities against the perceived threat from Russia.
The Independent notes that Latvia, Estonia and Finland spend significant amounts of money on defense. Tallinn spends 3.4% of GDP, Riga 3.15%, Helsinki just over 2.4%, according to the newspaper.
“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 buildup.
The Independent notes that the need for increased investment in European defense has been a popular one 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 of 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 be an impossible task. In mid-December, 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.