do you think that the large military buildup world wide - including a massive military upgrade for Australia is a sign that the world senses a long period of peace in future or an increased risk of war?
Not a trick question
“Europe is indeed engaged in a significant military buildup, though the scale and pace vary across countries:
1. Military spending in Europe has been increasing, with total European defense spending reaching €214 billion in 2021, marking the seventh consecutive year of growth[2].
2. 30 out of 39 European countries recorded increased military spending over the past year, driven by concerns about the Russia-Ukraine war[3].
3. Poland is undertaking a particularly large-scale military buildup, aiming to become Europe's most capable land force and a key anchor for NATO's eastern flank[4].
4. The EU has implemented several initiatives to boost defense cooperation, including the European Defence Fund with a €7.9 billion budget, and the permanent structured cooperation (PESCO) with 47 collaborative projects[2].
5. However, challenges remain. Many European countries are still catching up after decades of underinvestment, and there's a lack of efficient collaboration in procurement and spending[5].
6. The defense industry in Europe has been slow to ramp up production, with contracts materializing slowly despite increased spending commitments[1].
While there is a clear trend towards increased military spending and capability development in Europe, it's not yet a "massive" buildup across the board. The process is ongoing, with varying degrees of urgency and scale among different European nations.
Sources
[1] Europe's military buildup: More talk than action - POLITICO.eu
https://www.politico.eu/article/europe-military-industry-defense-buildup-war/
[2] Defence: is the EU creating a European army? | Topics
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/topi...-what-is-europe-really-doing-to-boost-defence
[3] Europe preparing for war as Ukraine conflict looms large, report finds
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024...-as-ukraine-conflict-looms-large-report-finds
[4] Poland Becomes a Defense Colossus - CEPA
https://cepa.org/article/poland-becomes-a-defense-colossus/
[5] For NATO to Thrive, Europe Needs to Wake Up
https://ip-quarterly.com/en/nato-thrive-europe-needs-wake
