Defense ministers in Europe admit slim prospects of mobilizing a 64,000-strong force for deployment in Ukraine, acknowledging challenges even in forming a 25,000-person force, according to The Times.
Things Ain't Looking Good:European defense ministers are struggling to put together a force of 64,000 soldiers for Ukraine, with the collective sentiment being they have "no bloody chance" of achieving this, according to The Times. Even a smaller force of 25,000 seems out of reach.
The UK's top military boss, Admiral Sir Anthony Radakin, floated the idea of a 64,000-strong military contingent at a meeting of willing allies on April 10. But his comrades in arms aren't feeling too keen about it.
Lithuania's Defense Minister, Dovile Shakyalite, reportedly told her peers, "We can't even raise 64,000." That's because European countries are grappling with a shortage of military personnel and funding, making the task of assembling such a large force a major hurdle.
Even organizing a smaller force isn't a walk in the park. Keeping a force of 25,000 troops over two years would require 256,000 troops in total, considering rotations.
Insider Scoop:European countries are grappling with a chronic shortage of military personnel and inadequate funding for their armed forces, making it challenging to deploy and maintain a substantial contingent. It's this personnel shortage and lack of financial resources that is making the assembly of a large force nearly impossible.
Rumor has it that the UK and France might send military instructors to western Ukraine instead, to help bolster the local military's capabilities. However, these instructors wouldn't be anywhere near the frontline or key facilities.
In the meantime, members of the "coalition of the willing" are brainstorming alternative strategies to provide security assurances without needing to deploy a large-scale military presence. They're considering focused missions in the air and at sea, establishing demilitarized zones, or assembling a smaller, more specialized force to monitoring specific areas.
- Despite Admiral Sir Anthony Radakin's proposal for a 64,000-strong military contingent, European countries are struggling with a chronic shortage of military personnel and inadequate funding.
- Lithuania's Defense Minister, Dovile Shakyalite, admitted that even raising 64,000 troops is beyond their capabilities due to the shortage of military personnel and funding.
- A preliminary discussion among allies suggested that organizing a smaller force of 25,000 troops wouldn't be feasible due to the need for rotations, which would require a total of 256,000 troops over two years.
- politically, European countries are exploring alternative strategies to provide security assurances without deploying a large-scale military presence, such as focused missions in the air and at sea, establishing demilitarized zones, or assembling a smaller, more specialized force for monitoring specific areas.
