European members of NATO cannot beat Russian army: Report
European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) cannot fight a war against Russia, a report says, amid strained relations between Moscow and the Western military alliance over the crisis in Ukraine.
Most of the key members of NATO are suffering from “chronic underfunding” and “critical deficiencies” in their “hollowed- out” armies, said the report by influential US-based think tank the Atlantic Council, which was released on Friday.
To give an example, the report said that Germany has only 10 functional Tiger helicopters out of its fleet of 31, and just 280 Marder armored infantry vehicles out of its total of 406.
Richard Shirreff, a senior British Army officer and one of the report’s authors, said that for the UK, “the deployment of a brigade, let alone a division at credible readiness, would be a major challenge.”
He added that London was forced to deploy tanks from Canada in one of the drills conducted in Europe last year, “because the serviceability and spares situation in the UK’s fleet was so dire.”
The report came a day after US Air Force General Philip M. Breedlove, NATO’s top commander, said that the United States European Command (EUCOM) was ready to beat Russia "if necessary."
"To counter Russia, EUCOM, working with allies and partners, is deterring Russia now and preparing to fight and win if necessary," Breedlove said.
Relations between Russia and NATO soured after Crimea separated from Ukraine and rejoined the Russian Federation following a referendum in March 2014.
The military alliance ended all practical cooperation with Russia over the ensuing crisis in Ukraine in April 2014.
The US and its European allies accuse Moscow of destabilizing Ukraine and have imposed a number of sanctions against Russian figures. Moscow, however, rejects having a hand in the Ukrainian crisis.
Russia has repeatedly slammed NATO’s military buildup near its borders, saying such a move poses a threat to both regional and international peace.
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