NEW YORK, March 7. /TASS/. European defense stocks may be depleted in several weeks without US support in case of an attack, Bloomberg reported.
According to the agency, "in case of an offensive, ammunition in Europe could run out within days, while the rearmament process could take years." It emphasizes that Europe is heavily reliant on the United States for communications, intelligence, logistics, as well as strategic military guidance and firepower within NATO. The agency further highlights that the continent's "front-line defenses are only equipped to repel an invasion" by Russia for a few weeks at most without the United States.
Bloomberg points out that over the past 30 years, the main European members of NATO have reduced the number of active troops by almost 50%. At present, "over more than two dozen countries from Greece to Iceland, the continent’s NATO members have about 1.5 million active military personnel," according to the agency.
Bloomberg reports that the European Union plans to allocate €150 billion in loans and permit member states to spend an additional €650 billion on defense. The UK intends to redirect development aid towards military needs, while Germany is set to break with tradition by relaxing constitutional restrictions on borrowing for rearmament.