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

**aceriscoolon** · 09-02-2010, 04:23 PM

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.

I am not talking about ability. Europe has plenty of weapons. What I am talking about is the will. IMO, Europe as a whole has become weak. Diplomacy has its place but so does violence.

I will also have to disagree when it comes to Russia. I believe one of the only reasons Russia has decided to remain largely out of western European business is because of the US. Strategically, we are still Europe's ace in the hole. If push comes to shove we are still there. Remove America from the equation and you will have a Europe without its largest, strategic parter and with a Europe that doesn't, IMO, have the stomach to put up much of a fight.

09-02-2010, 04:23 PM	#13
aceriscoolon Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 354 Senior Member	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. I am not talking about ability. Europe has plenty of weapons. What I am talking about is the will. IMO, Europe as a whole has become weak. Diplomacy has its place but so does violence. I will also have to disagree when it comes to Russia. I believe one of the only reasons Russia has decided to remain largely out of western European business is because of the US. Strategically, we are still Europe's ace in the hole. If push comes to shove we are still there. Remove America from the equation and you will have a Europe without its largest, strategic parter and with a Europe that doesn't, IMO, have the stomach to put up much of a fight.
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