6 months ago
31
NEW DELHI: The ongoing conflict between
Russia
and Ukraine, which began in 2014 and escalated dramatically with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, has not only devastated the region but also significantly heightened tensions between Russia and Western nations. The confrontation has pitted Russia against a coalition of Western countries, led primarily by members of
Nato
, who have supported
Ukraine
through sanctions against Russia and substantial
military
aid to Ukrainian forces.
This geopolitical strife has led many analysts to contemplate many doomsday scenarios in case a World War III breaks out between Russia and Nato members.
According to an interactive map-based analysis by Daily Mail, which details everything from troop numbers to military assets, Nato vastly outnumbers Russia in several key areas.
Nato, with its 32 member countries, commands a formidable military presence. The alliance's combined budget exceeds $1 trillion, supporting over three million active personnel, around three million reserve personnel, and substantial hardware including 14,000 tanks, 21,000 military aircraft, and almost 2,000 naval vessels. This includes nuclear capabilities possessed by the US, the UK, and France, adding a significant strategic advantage.
Conversely, Russia's military, while substantial, is smaller in scale with approximately 350,000 active army soldiers and around one million active military personnel. Despite this numerical disadvantage, Russia has demonstrated a willingness to engage in intensive and prolonged military operations, as evidenced by the tactics seen in Ukraine, which recall the grueling warfare of World War I.
The recent statements by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, declaring readiness to confront Nato forces should they deploy on Ukrainian soil, underscore the heightened readiness for a broader conflict. This rhetoric coincides with ongoing fierce battles in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces utilize both advanced technology and large-scale human resources to gain territorial control.
Reflecting on the potential for a larger scale conflict, Ben Hodges, former Commanding General of US Army Europe, has expressed concerns about the reliability of
US support
for Europe, especially in the context of the US presidential elections. The stability of Nato's defense strategy could be significantly impacted by shifts in US policy post-election.
"And if the armed forces of US and Canada are removed from the equation, the playing field between Russia and Nato's European members suddenly looks a lot more balanced," the Daily Mail report said.
