REARMING EUROPE – WHATEVER IT TAKES
Europe is rearming to reduce its dependence on the US – but will pouring vast sums of money into defence make it safer, or simply enrich the arms industry? To what extent is Europe capable of defending itself?
With one trillion euros, Europe aims to prepare itself militarily against threats from Russia and China and to reduce its dependence on the United States. But how quickly can Europe realistically become capable of defending itself? Europe lags far behind in military readiness, and the rush to expand the arms industry has begun. But does spending so much money make us any safer – or is it merely enriching the arms industry? EU states have historically been among the world’s biggest military spenders – yet this spending is not reflected in actual defence capability. The reason is fragmentation: European armies currently operate with 178 different weapons systems, the United States with 30. For main battle tanks, Europeans rely on 17 different types, whereas the Americans manage with just one. The consequences are obvious: high costs, redundancies and incompatible systems that are wholly unsuitable for joint military operations. Europe Rearms launches a comprehensive investigation – travelling from southern Europe to the countries along NATO’s eastern border, from Finland to Bulgaria – to find out how, and for what purposes, European governments intend – and ought – to spend this vast sum.
Copyright pictures: SAAB