Merkel: Europe must unite to stand up to China, Russia and US

[Omega21]

Pay 2% of GDP on Defense first.

Also if the EU wants to stand up to the US and they refuse to pay their 2% fee the US should make sure their are some consequences for this .

What fee are you talking about? Good Lord, there is no "NATO FEE", it simply does not exist.

Each country pays into its own defence budget, and the 2% is a "NATO recommendation", not a fee.

The EU military budget is around $230 Billion, so yeah, I think it is enough, considering that it is on par with China (a country with 3x the population), and 4 times the amount Russia invests.

So yeah, unlike what you think, no one is invading Europe if you pull out, seeing as it is the 2nd/3rd biggest spender after the US.

[Omega21]

If Europe/NATO/US/the West was smart they'd delegate roles.  Like Norway specializes in Destroyers, anti-sub aircraft and Medivac.  Germany gets MBTs, attack subs, mobile AA and sidearms.  UK gets missile cruisers, battleships, tankers and light tanks.  France could do carriers and field artillery.  The Dutch make good rifles.  etc and so on.  There is some of this now, sure, but there could be a lot more.  If the UK still wants to develop their own destroyers "'cause we can never trust them dirty Swedes", then perhaps Europe isn't as united as it thinks it is and history repeating itself is only a matter of time.  Perhaps we'll see the Bundeswehr marching through Paris and Warsaw again in our life times.

The UK is leaving and would be an unreliable partner as they are usually more loyal to the US than European interests.

Other than that, I agree, each country should specialize in what they are good at.

Pay 2% of GDP on Defense first.

Also if the EU wants to stand up to the US and they refuse to pay their 2% fee the US should make sure their are some consequences for this .

What fee are you talking about? Good Lord, there is no "NATO FEE", it simply does not exist.

Each country pays into its own defence budget, and the 2% is a "NATO recommendation", not a fee.

The EU military budget is around $230 Billion, so yeah, I think it is enough, considering that it is on par with China (a country with 3x the population), and 4 times the amount Russia invests.

So yeah, unlike what you think, no one is invading Europe if you pull out, seeing as it is the 2nd/3rd biggest spender after the US.

It looks good on the paper, but the EU militaries aren't integrated, or even properly coordinated to act as one force. It's basically like the U.S. without its army, relying on state militias (with huge differences in budget, capabilities and equipment) jumping together in time of crisis.

And yes, I am aware of that, and I do support Military cooperation and integration to achieve better efficiency, but not an "EU Army" without nations.

Still, the EU would be more than capable to handle Russia, even as things are currently.