Reference News Network, January 27 report: According to the website of the U.S. "Wall Street Journal" on January 24, the proposal by U.S. President Trump to acquire Greenland has once again raised questions among U.S. NATO allies: whether Europe can produce enough weapons to fight independently of the United States. Defense analysts and legislators mostly believe this is feasible, but not yet.

The report says that facing the threat from Russia and differences with Washington, Europe wants to re-arm itself. In this context, Europe's once-stagnant defense industry is producing drones, tanks, ammunition, and other weapons at the fastest rate in decades. But the road ahead is long. According to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the cost of replacing current U.S. military equipment and personnel in Europe will be around $1 trillion. The region still has some gaps in its manufacturing capabilities, including stealth fighters, long-range missiles, and satellite intelligence.

Although Europe has strengthened its defense production in recent years, its fragmented industry is still not reaching the level of U.S. capacity, which is supported by the world's largest military budget.

According to the report, despite this, the sharp increase in European military spending and renewed efforts in R&D are strengthening their operational independence - in some cases, the pace of progress is astonishing.

In late 2024, German entrepreneur Clemens Kuhlenten founded a company that sells drones to European armies. Within less than a year, this German company sold hundreds of drones.

Europe is increasingly desperate for solutions - not only to counter the U.S. attempt to seize Greenland, but also to address how the U.S. will treat the broader security alliance that has tied it to Europe since the end of World War II.

Andrius Kubilius, an EU official responsible for revitalizing the defense industry, said on January 21 at the World Economic Forum in Davos in Switzerland, "If Americans start to reduce their presence on the European continent, we certainly need to start planning how to build what we call the 'European pillar' of NATO."

Trump had previously urged Europe to increase defense spending. As the U.S. increasingly focuses on Latin America and Asia, U.S. assets may likely be withdrawn from Europe. Recently, the dispute between the White House and Europe over Ukraine and Greenland has raised concerns that the U.S. might cut off its own weapon supplies, or even prevent Europeans from using weapons they already own.

Industry executives say that Europe is currently smoothly transitioning to self-sufficient defense industry.

Kuhlenten said his company was able to start producing so quickly because European investors are now willing to provide funding for defense companies.

The largest increase in European defense spending since the Cold War is accelerating this process.

According to analysts at Bernstein, Europe spent about $560 billion on defense last year, double the amount ten years ago. Bernstein expects that by 2035, its equipment spending will reach 80% of the Pentagon's, compared to less than 30% in 2019.

If the region turns to domestic weapons, it could affect the U.S. defense sector. According to data from Institutional Partnerships, Europe accounts for 10% of the revenue of U.S. defense manufacturers.

Since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, Rheinmetall, a German company, has opened or is building 16 new factories. In just over two years, Leonardo, an Italian defense giant, has increased its workforce by almost half, reaching 64,000 employees.

By last spring, Europe's largest missile manufacturer, MBDA, was able to produce 40 short-range "Mistral" air defense missiles per month, up from 10 before the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the production of anti-tank missiles doubled to 40 per month.

In some cases, Europe's production has even exceeded that of the U.S. Rheinmetall will soon be able to produce 1.5 million 155mm shells per year, surpassing the total of the U.S. defense industry.

Europe almost fully supplies its own armored vehicles, with the German "Leopard" tank being widely popular worldwide. The region can also completely manufacture various ships and submarines, and these vessels have sold more globally than U.S. counterparts.

There are signs that some European countries have begun to choose domestically produced weapons rather than U.S.-made ones. Between 2020 and 2024, 79% of Denmark's defense imports came from the U.S. Last year, as Trump intensified pressure to force Denmark to sell Greenland, more than half of Denmark's weapon purchases came from Europe. (Translated by Ge Xuele)

Original: toutiao.com/article/7599950803297665577/

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