Europe has the weapons, but still needs America to wage war – POLITICO

The European Union’s defense is often hobbled by the need for unanimity, giving a veto to pro-Kremlin Hungary. And even if EU countries do organize in smaller groups, they then have to try to integrate with third nations like Norway, the U.K., and increasingly Canada.

A full divorce would be eye-wateringly expensive; Rutte estimates it would come to 10 percent of GDP, double what NATO countries have committed to spend on defense.

The cost could reach $1 trillion, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, a think tank. “Not only would European allies need to replace major U.S. military platforms and manpower … but also address shortfalls in space and all-domain intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets,” as well as replacing U.S. contributions to NATO’s command-and-control arrangements.

However, Europe isn’t starting from zero.

In many areas, the EU already has good alternatives, said Camille Grand, secretary-general of the European Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association defense lobby. “I think in 98 percent of the cases, there is a European solution.”

Surveillance

While the Boeing E-3 Sentry, commonly known as AWACS, is a workhorse of surveillance, command, control and communications, NATO is hunting for a replacement.