At least from a German standpoint I can say: we never had stockpiles. Like literally. The official estimate was that the Bundeswehr had ammo for two days of war. No hyperbole.
The most efficient thing Germany could have done with all the Leopards would have been to use them as mobile roadblocks.
This seems obvious. He invaded Ukraine because he doesn’t want to share more border with the EU or NATO. If Ukraine falls, he’ll have no European borders except with the EU or NATO.
I mean, the point of strategic stockpiles is to use them when called for. This isn’t necessarily a problem YET, until the stockpiles are empty, not just depleted, despite the factories churning out new ammo as fast as they can.
They should just adopt a war time strategy right now.
Ammo and vehicles non stop. That would boost not only their economy but prepare for the inevitable. Hes coming for the old Soviet Block and then some if he isn’t stopped in Ukraine
Europe can simply buy more arms from the US. This has the advantage of replacing old stock with new.
Bear in mind, these aren’t charity donations. Weapons and aid are being provided to Ukraine under bilateral aid agreements - which are inherently two way, and almost always heavily favour the country giving, as the receiving country is desperate. Ukraine won’t be expected to pay right away, but they will be expected to pay - and they will be expected to pay over the odds, with interest.
Granted, they probably won’t be able to pay in full - but that’s a future government’s problem. In the meantime, the donating nations can treat the loans as a surefire return and fiddle their books, making their long term economic forecasts seem far better than they really are.
At least Europe is stepping up when the U.S. isn’t. But they don’t have the U.S. defense industry, so who knows how long Ukraine can hold out.
Also Europe gave away so many shells that now the European ammo factories work to replenish the most basic strategic stockpiles of the EU militaries.
At least from a German standpoint I can say: we never had stockpiles. Like literally. The official estimate was that the Bundeswehr had ammo for two days of war. No hyperbole.
The most efficient thing Germany could have done with all the Leopards would have been to use them as mobile roadblocks.
I don’t see that they have a choice. Russia isn’t going to stop with Ukraine if they can take it.
This seems obvious. He invaded Ukraine because he doesn’t want to share more border with the EU or NATO. If Ukraine falls, he’ll have no European borders except with the EU or NATO.
You’d think it was obvious. However, over here in America…
Sadly true. :(
I mean, the point of strategic stockpiles is to use them when called for. This isn’t necessarily a problem YET, until the stockpiles are empty, not just depleted, despite the factories churning out new ammo as fast as they can.
They should just adopt a war time strategy right now.
Ammo and vehicles non stop. That would boost not only their economy but prepare for the inevitable. Hes coming for the old Soviet Block and then some if he isn’t stopped in Ukraine
Also, Denmark is a small-ish country. It is not “Europe” as in whole of it.
I realize that. I was speaking on general terms.
Europe can simply buy more arms from the US. This has the advantage of replacing old stock with new.
Bear in mind, these aren’t charity donations. Weapons and aid are being provided to Ukraine under bilateral aid agreements - which are inherently two way, and almost always heavily favour the country giving, as the receiving country is desperate. Ukraine won’t be expected to pay right away, but they will be expected to pay - and they will be expected to pay over the odds, with interest.
Granted, they probably won’t be able to pay in full - but that’s a future government’s problem. In the meantime, the donating nations can treat the loans as a surefire return and fiddle their books, making their long term economic forecasts seem far better than they really are.