>here is basically no real threat to European countries atm. The key word here is atm (at this moment, I guess). The problem with military capabilities is that

>here is basically no real threat to European countries atm. The key word here is atm (at this moment, I guess). The problem with military capabilities is that they can't ramp up quickly -- it takes years. Relying on what's needed atm is shortsightedness at very least. Many countries in history paid a very painful price for it, or even ceased to exist. A very recent example is Ukraine. It had exactly the same attitude -- "we don't have enemies atm, why bother". Until suddenly it had.