How Britain Frittered Away Its Military Clout

The only credible European response to Russian aggression is to show our enemies that we are both willing and able to fight back. In Europe today, neither is the case. Despite a rallying call from NATO leadership and Donald Trump’s repeated demands — just demands — that Europeans should pay our share, there seems little likelihood of effective rearmament.

How did we get into this state, both of mind and body? Above all where are the British, since 1945 unquestioned regional leaders of Europe’s defense? This status derived first, from the fact that we owned far more effective armed forces than did our European partners, even if the French and Germans had more men in uniform. Second, we were recognized as the foremost overseas ally of the US, with a unique intelligence partnership and unparalleled access in Washington.