Without the Americans, Europe needs 300,000 soldiers

Europe will need to focus on "mechanised and armoured forces to replace American heavy units," which would mean 50 new European brigades.

An analysis by the think tank Bruegel and the Kiel Institute looked at what it would mean for the EU and the UK to take full responsibility for their own defence.

Experts from both organisations estimate that around 300,000 soldiers would be needed. This figure comes from the withdrawal of the 100,000 troops the United States has deployed on the European continent and the 200,000 men Washington could rapidly send to Europe in the event of a Russian attack on a member of NATO.

According to the initial estimate in the report, European countries’ defence spending should be increased in the short term by around €250 billion a year, rising from about 2% of GDP today to 3.5%.

(MH with AmBar – Source: Agency – Photo: © Unsplash)