Europe wants to fight, 380 billion US dollars to escort! NATO members are mobilized, but there are still 14 countries whose wallets have not been bulged.
At the meeting of NATO defense ministers on February 14, 2024, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg made cruel words: The EU will use 380 billion US dollars to gather forces for comprehensive arms construction and arms procurement. What is it that forces Europe to make such a huge decision at this moment?
Counter-common sense 1: Europe is "on the verge of risk", why is its armament rapidly escalating?
What kind of threat does the huge figure of $380 billion imply to European countries? All of this needs to be revealed later, but what is certain is that Europe is seriously facing a serious security challenge.
There are 32 NATO member countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France and other high-profile powers. At the meeting, Stoltenberg announced that 18 NATO member states will reach the target of 2% of GDP in defense spending this year. However, it is worrying that 14 countries are still not spending on their military.
Anti-common sense two: Germany is finally "catching up".
Germany has long been in the spotlight and has been criticized for failing to meet NATO's 2% GDP target for defense spending. However, 2024 is finally a time to "catch up". According to a report submitted by Germany, the defense budget for 2024 is as high as 734$100 million, an increase of 29 percent over the previous year6%。This figure also sets a new record for Germany's defense spending since World War II.
The U.S. military spending, as always, tops the list, with a defense budget of $886 billion for fiscal year 2024, more than the second to tenth countries combined. This figure once again set a new record for U.S. defense spending, accounting for about 40 percent of the world's total military spending.
Anti-common sense 3: Will Russia's increased armament trigger a new round of arms race?
Unlike the relatively calm military posture of NATO countries, Russia recently announced its defense budget for 2024, which is as high as $113 billion, accounting for 5% of Russia's GDP78%。This figure accounts for more than 30% of the entire Russian annual budget, showing Russia's tough posture in armaments.
Russia has announced that it will significantly increase its combat troops, bringing the total number to 1.32 million. However, the increase of 310,000 troops is mainly combat troops and does not include logistical, civilian and technical personnel. This has sparked speculation about the future scale of Russia's armaments.
Anti-common sense four: NATO secretary general pressures "confrontation or continuation for decades".
In order to urge more NATO countries to increase military spending, Stoltenberg not only criticized countries that do not meet military spending standards, but also warned countries that "the confrontation between NATO and Russia may last for decades." He stressed that if Russia wins in Ukraine, it is possible to continue its attacks on other countries.
This view is shared by Denmark, Sweden, Estonia and other countries. They also believe that the conflict between Russia and NATO countries could flare up in the next three years.
Counter-common sense 5: The future is uncertain, and the situation may escalate again.
This series of arms movements has aroused the concern of the international community. Will a multinational arms race lead to an escalation of the global situation? Will the confrontation between NATO and Russia really escalate into a full-scale conflict in the coming years? These questions pose a huge question mark before us.
What is the story behind Europe's preparations? What are these countries worried about? We will continue to pay attention and try to unravel the mystery of this preparation. This may be just the tip of the iceberg, and more unknown stories are waiting to be revealed.
Anti-common sense 6: The international situation is confusing, and unknown factors are increasing.
As Europe's preparations for war have become more solid, the international situation has become more and more confusing. There are more and more unknown factors, and every movement can become a tipping point. The international community's worries about the future have also increased: will it be peaceful and stable, or will it be embroiled in a new arms race? This has become a huge issue before us.
Anti-common sense seven: the deep-seated reasons for Europe's preparations for war.
What is the underlying reason behind it? Why are European countries so desperate to prepare for war? Is it internal and external troubles, or is it a new pattern of international competition? These questions need to be further dug and revealed one by one. Europe's preparations for war may be just the tip of the iceberg, and more complex mysteries are waiting to be solved.
Counter-common sense 8: Always be prepared, and the world's eyes are focused.
Both NATO and Russia are always ready to respond to unknown challenges. The eyes of the world are also focused on the region, and the vigilance is doubled. The future trend cannot be ignored, and it may be a new round of reshuffle in the international political landscape.
Anti-common sense nine: readers' voices, in-depth interpretation of Europe's preparations.
In this context of war preparations, readers are more eager to understand the arms race in Europe in depth. We'll continue to monitor this matter and provide readers with more in-depth analysis to better understand and grasp the ins and outs of this turbulent moment. Stay tuned for our follow-up coverage.
The drama of Europe's preparations is far from over, and the future direction of development is unbelievable. It is only through sustained attention and in-depth interpretation that we can better understand the historical significance of this moment, as well as the major variables contained in it. Let us all witness the possible knock-on effects of this preparation and the far-reaching impact on the international landscape.