DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Must Europe assume more (financial) responsibilty for its defence?

**cajonnmu** · 09-02-2010, 04:16 PM

I am not optimistic. IMO, Europe doesn't have the spine to fight another, major war.

That said, as far as conventional threats go, I'd still put Russia down as a threat. Especially given their recent actions and rhetoric. Then there is, of course, China.

If Europe has to, it certainly has the ability to fight any war. Europeans have been very successful at solving conflicts through soft power though and will prefer diplomacy over military action at any time. That does not mean that Germany, France, Britain and 27 other EU countries would not be able to put an impressive army on the ground would they see the necessity to do so.
And I have to disagree about Russia beeing a threat. I firstly have not seen Russia making threats towards western Europe recently ( and they would be extremely foolish to do so), and secondly you seem to underestimate the factor of economic interdependence in Europe. As much as Europe needs russian oil and gas Russia needs foreign investions and export markets.
To move agressively against Europe would be economic suicide for Russia and I see no indication of the russian leadership beeing lunatic enough for such a move.
Russias behaviour towards former soviet republics is a different story but Russia attacking the EU is not an option. Not really.

09-02-2010, 04:16 PM	#12
cajonnmu Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 507 Senior Member	I am not optimistic. IMO, Europe doesn't have the spine to fight another, major war. That said, as far as conventional threats go, I'd still put Russia down as a threat. Especially given their recent actions and rhetoric. Then there is, of course, China. If Europe has to, it certainly has the ability to fight any war. Europeans have been very successful at solving conflicts through soft power though and will prefer diplomacy over military action at any time. That does not mean that Germany, France, Britain and 27 other EU countries would not be able to put an impressive army on the ground would they see the necessity to do so. And I have to disagree about Russia beeing a threat. I firstly have not seen Russia making threats towards western Europe recently ( and they would be extremely foolish to do so), and secondly you seem to underestimate the factor of economic interdependence in Europe. As much as Europe needs russian oil and gas Russia needs foreign investions and export markets. To move agressively against Europe would be economic suicide for Russia and I see no indication of the russian leadership beeing lunatic enough for such a move. Russias behaviour towards former soviet republics is a different story but Russia attacking the EU is not an option. Not really.
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