Reference News, February 8 report. According to the French newspaper Le Figaro's website on February 3, during the Paris Naval Conference held from February 2 to 3, naval officials from France, the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, and the US all expressed concerns about the threat posed by Russian submarines.

Western navies are unhesitatingly preparing for major conflicts, even believing that this scenario could come to pass in the short term. Dutch Navy Commander Harald Lübberding stated at the meeting: "We should enter a high-speed moment; we should be prepared for war." He said that if the Ukraine-Russia conflict ends and Moscow continues its current pace of weapons production, the risk may become greater.

Lübberding warned: "We need stronger firepower at sea and on land." He also clearly specified the date when the Dutch military should be ready: January 1, 2028. US Chief of Naval Operations Daryl Caudle believes that future US warships will increase firepower by "25%."

First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff of the UK, Gwyn Jenkins, said that the Russians "will test us." He believes that Russia is continuing to invest in the Northern Fleet, and its submarine capabilities have not been reduced. The Russians do not need to use many means to trap us.

An military expert pointed out that if Western countries are not aggressive, a maritime confrontation would be detrimental to them. Before the meeting, the five countries' naval officials participated in a "brain game" organized by the French Institute of International Relations, a war simulation game that puts Western navies in a difficult situation.

If a confrontation with the West occurs, Russia may rely on its mysterious and high-performance submarine force. Admiral Daryl Caudle of the US Navy said: "The Russians view submarines as their main ships." First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff Jenkins said: "The Russian Navy has shown a willingness to operate in ambiguous gray areas." He also said that the UK has strengthened cooperation with the US and French navies to share intelligence to counter threats.

General Fabien Mandon, Chief of the French Armed Forces, believes that if the West goes to war with Russia, "just like previous world wars," the ocean may become "a key point of resistance against the enemy," and Russia may seek to strike communication lines and supply lines. He said: "Our navy should be able to control straits, block channels, and entrances." Italian Navy Chief of Staff Garibaldi Berutti-Bergotto said: "The southern front of NATO is not a stable area." He pointed out that the Mediterranean could be a region prone to crises.

Facing the risk of conflict, rearming the navy has become a priority. General Mandon said that maritime warfare "will be very tough." He also said: "My idea is to reduce casualties. Now there are not enough ships, and the number of ship-launched missiles is also insufficient."

The current warships of the West were designed during peacetime, many of the weapons they carry are intended for multiple tasks, and they lack defensive measures against opponents of equal strength.

Western navies are also facing challenges in the spread of combat areas, including the protection of Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts.

At the same time, they are also required to go to the Indo-Pacific region, and the threat from Houthi rebels in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf has not yet disappeared. Even in the Arctic region, the US is worried about potential competition in the future.

French Chief of Naval Staff Nicolas Vouillot said: "The threats in deep sea and space are increasing. We should enhance (naval) resilience and coordination." That is to say, more weapons equipment, and navy ships should be in a state where they can respond more quickly.

However, the scale of European navies is unable to cope with such challenges. The French Navy, which has 15 advanced ships capable of overseas defense missions, does not have enough resources to achieve all its ambitions. The situation of the Royal Navy of the UK is worse, currently only one of its seven nuclear submarines is deployable. To compensate for the lack of naval power, the British Navy has focused on fleet mix and the development of drones, and also hopes that progress in artificial intelligence and interconnectivity will enhance the speed of command. However, the capabilities it expects have not arrived on schedule.

General Jenkins did not hide the facts and admitted: "This is the result of underinvestment over the past decades." He said that efforts should be made in the future, "we will do our best." If in the future, the US ally cannot spare attention due to focusing elsewhere, European navies may need to take on their own responsibilities alone. (Translated by Lu Longjun)

Original: toutiao.com/article/7604300736305971722/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.