“There is a considerable logistics deficit in Europe, particularly in terms of all the means of crossing rivers” and fuel logistics, he said.
More money
Rearming, boosting production and improving military mobility are hugely expensive —which is why Vandier and others, including NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, are calling for an increase in defense spending beyond NATO’s current target of at least 2 percent of member country GDP.
“You have to pay more. Those who believe that with tech, war will be cheaper and less painful are kidding themselves,” the French admiral said, adding that 3 percent of GDP “is going to be the objective put on the table within the next 18 months.” Military expenditure amounted to 4 percent or 5 percent of GDP during the Cold War, he pointed out.
Adding to the costs is the war in Ukraine, which has upended pre-war planning. Its mix of World War I-style trench warfare and intense artillery barrages mated with high-tech drone, missile and cyber combat is forcing European militaries to update their plans.
“The paradox is that you can’t say that one thing will replace the others … It costs money,” Vandier said.
Asked whether European governments are ready to invest more in their armed forces, he replied: “This is the big question.”
“Europe represents 10 percent of the world’s population and 50 percent of the world’s social spending,” the SACT said. “There comes a time when we’ll have to tell ourselves that if we have to defend ourselves, we’ll need to do a little balancing.”
