Yep. The euro's are claiming they are going to ramp up to spend $800 billion on defense, using some debt to kick start it with $150 billion on tap,
but that is mostly just an illusion.
Quote:
Most of them are hardly competitive and the cost of defense hardware is unrealistically high, as a report by the respected European think tank Kiel Institute for the World Economy says. The Von Der Leyen proposal follows exactly the Kiel proposed increase in spending needed in Europe.
A singular problem is that more tanks and guns presuppose more troops, probably between 300,000 to 500,000 boots on the ground. Such a force simply does not exist in Europe and there's almost no prospect for building one. Having warehouses full of equipment without any operators is a non-starter. Building an army requires raising and paying one.
There is zero momentum in that direction in Europe. It helps explain one of the reasons why Volodymyr Zelensky claimed Ukraine could supply the soldiers Europe needs, but in truth, Ukraine does not have the manpower, most of which is tied down in fighting the Russians and taking heavy losses in the process.
Even if peace in Ukraine is achieved, it will take a couple of generations and lots of money to recruit an army that mostly does not speak any European language.
Paying to hire/equip/outfit and train an army is expensive business, and one that the Euro's, especially the big 3 have shown no compunction to do over the past 30 years. They really haven't even tried to develop their own capabilities, preferring to just by off the shelf US equipment when necessary (such as the P8) or to nurse along ancient systems (see: France).
Aside; the little green goblin is going to Riyadh on monday to talk 'peace' apparently (and presumably beg for money). The Saudi's also have a lot of gear they've bought from us over the years, so I expect some token used donations as well.
