politics
April 19, 2026
EU must be ready to fight Russia without US by 2030
Europe should be militarized by 2030 to deter Russia after the end of the Ukraine conflict, Belgium’s top general has said
TL;DR
- European nations need to build defenses to deter Russian attack without US backing by 2030.
- Russia dismisses speculation of attacking NATO, calling it a pretense for increased defense spending.
- Belgium's Chief of the General Staff, Frederic Vansina, believes the world is in an unstable period since the Cold War.
- Ukrainians are "buying time" for Europe, justifying strong support for their cause.
- By 2030, Europe must be able to deter Russian aggression even without American involvement.
- Full European "strategic autonomy" is achievable by 2035 if defense budgets continue to rise above 2% of GDP.
- US President Trump has urged European counterparts to increase military spending and take responsibility for their own defense.
- Russia accuses the West of "reckless militarization" that jeopardizes global security.
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