European army

[EddieM]

May be obvious, but I don't share your belief.

Well agree to disagree on that then.

 

[Deleted member 63160]

An EU army to put off Putin and Trump?

That’s like me doing 10 press-ups so I could knock out Anthony Joshua.

You're a strong young man. Do 15. AJ is heavily steered/protected.

 

[Ian H]

You're a strong young man. Do 15. AJ is heavily steered/protected.

**** it, i’ll do 20 and take them all on!!

 

[motorbiking]

Even with their UK funded Brexit bonus, the EU can't afford an Army half the size of either the US or Russia. I'm not entirely convinced they are talking about a NATO style arrangement either. I'm thinking they actually mean a single EU Army, like the currency.

 

[JohnD]

the EU can't afford

No more can Russia, but it wants to.

Nato was constructed to inconvenience and delay the Red Army, in the event of it rolling Westward in a hot war. For 45 years, Western Europe invested in defence with that purpose in mind. That's what the Eurofighter was for. That's what Trident was for. That's what V-bombers were for. That's what Polaris was for.

After the first collapse of the Soviet Union, the purpose of armed forces in Western Europe evaporated. You'll recall that West Germany used to have a large and well-equipped army, with conscription.

Lots of redundant hardware was sold off for scrap, including lots of the UK's tanks, planes, ships and other costly items, and not replaced. I don't know how many tanks UK has today that are in working order. Not many, I think. Round about a hundred, is it?
https://www.forces.net/services/tri-service/british-army-reduce-frontline-tanks-third

Now that Mr Putin is reconstructing the Soviet Empire, Western and Central Europe, especially the countries with memories thirty years long, may need to ask their voters if they are ready to pay for rearmament.

Mr Trump has already told Western Europe that they should consider themselves to be on their own.

 

[motorbiking]

I don't think its down to how many tanks and soldiers you have. A tank is no match for a well equipped drone. Russia seems to have a political system content with very few, very rich and very many very poor. They are way further down the list than you'd expect.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_wealth_per_adult

I can't see EU countries willing to spend so much.

 

[durhamplumber]

May be obvious, but I don't share your belief.

Do you think Blair took us to war on his own thoughts? Or had his arm up his back ?

We rely on the usa for our defence. Everybody in the military will tell you that.

Indeed,not much room for debate with that 1

 

[Yafo]

Indeed,not much room for debate with that 1

Tell eddiem, he thinks we are still a superpower.

We are struggling to even be a major player !

We have a choice of future allies, we should be thinking past the initial blinkers!

 

[Notch7]

Tell eddiem, he thinks we are still a superpower.

We are struggling to even be a major player !

We have a choice of future allies, we should be thinking past the initial blinkers!

Typical anti UK, pro EU narrative from a remainer.

UK still retains considerable economic, cultural, military, scientific and political influence internationally. It’s a recognised nuclear weapons state and its defence budget ranks fifth or sixth in the world. The country has been a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council since its inception
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/study-finds-uk-is-second-most-powerful-country-in-the-world/


and it also found the UK had higher defence spending than any other European country. France and Germany came in second and third respectively
https://fullfact.org/economy/uk-france-defence/

 

[JohnD]

So you don't agree that we are no longer a superpower.

Calling that statement "anti-UK" shows you have no understanding of the post-1950 world.

That must be why you're a Brextremist.

 

[motorbiking]

According to some sources - there is only one (USA), I'm not sure I agree with that view.

 

[Yafo]

Typical anti UK, pro EU narrative from a remainer.

UK still retains considerable economic, cultural, military, scientific and political influence internationally. It’s a recognised nuclear weapons state and its defence budget ranks fifth or sixth in the world. The country has been a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council since its inception
https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/study-finds-uk-is-second-most-powerful-country-in-the-world/


and it also found the UK had higher defence spending than any other European country. France and Germany came in second and third respectively
https://fullfact.org/economy/uk-france-defence/

Typical blinkered view.

Where was my anti uk narrative?

My point, if you understood it, was about the future defence of the UK, something I want defended.

Do you think we are strong enough currently to be a major player, or superpower? What about when we brexit, do you think we will get stronger or weaker?

 

[noseall]

do you think we will get stronger or weaker?

Don't be silly. That bastion of honesty, integrity and altruism - Trump, will be at our beck and call, should we need him.

 

[motorbiking]

Why does Brexit make any difference? And yes we are a major player - top 10 in most criteria.

 

[noseall]

Why does Brexit make any difference?

I agree. We came together during the last world war and I'm sure Europe would unite against a threat from the Ruskies or Trump, again.