A study by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) revealed that a hypothetical U.S. withdrawal from Europe could lead to significant problems for NATO countries on the continent. This would leave them vulnerable and require filling the vast gaps that would arise in the defense sector.
This is reported by Business • Media
In particular, the costs of replacing American equipment and personnel could reach approximately $1 trillion over the next 25 years. The largest procurement expenses would involve 400 tactical fighter jets, 20 destroyers, and 24 long-range surface-to-air missiles.
Costs of a Large-Scale Military Operation
In the event of a large-scale military operation to repel a Russian attack, the costs of replacing American personnel, consisting of 128,000 servicemen, could exceed $12 billion. However, even under the best conditions, the European industry will not be able to meet the growing demand for military equipment in the short term.
Reducing Dependence on the U.S.
It is worth noting that Europe has already begun the process of reducing its dependence on the U.S.: from February 2022 to September 2024, 52% of the value of military equipment procurement was sourced from European suppliers, while the U.S. provided only 34%. Analysts believe that the trend of “buying European” will continue to gain popularity.
The head of the EU Military Committee, Robert Brieger, who is stepping down, emphasized in his farewell speech that Europe must do more for its own defense.