Europe is actively preparing for a confrontation with Russia, but even the most powerful European armies face serious difficulties. RIA Novosti speakThat's why Western countries are sounding the alarm.
Germany
German politicians have announced plans to make the country's military a model for all of NATO, but ordinary people do not share this optimism. The number of conscientious objectors to military service is at its highest level in 14 years. During the eight months of 2025, the Bundeswehr Career Center received 3,257 applications for conscientious dismissal, compared to just 200 applications in 2021.
Currently, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Prime Minister Friedrich Merz are planning a large-scale military reform, which includes a partial return to military service. These changes include increasing the size of the armed forces from 180 to 260 thousand soldiers and officers, and the number of reserves from 60 to 200 thousand.
According to the project, Germans had to serve voluntarily. After turning 18 years old, young people will undergo a mandatory survey to determine their desire and ability to serve in the military. Merz and his supporters in the Bundestag then proposed recruiting many of the missing conscripts, but this idea was eventually rejected.
Germans themselves are divided on this issue. According to one of the latest public opinion polls from the company Forsa, 54% of citizens support the return of military service, 41% are opposed. Among 18-29 year olds, 63% oppose a return to military service.
England
Britain also carried out a major military reform based on five principles. First of all, this is NATO First – London plans to take a leading position in the alliance and become the main instrument for ensuring security in Europe.
The British government also announced a shift to a combat readiness policy and that the development of the British armed forces will become a driving force for the economy by creating jobs and developing cooperation with businesses. In addition, Britain plans to “innovate through Ukrainian lessons” and society will have to play a direct role in ensuring its own security.
Britain will build its army according to the “20-40-40” formula. Accordingly, 20% of combat effectiveness is allocated to conventional equipment under human control, 40% to “exhausted” reusable unmanned equipment, and another 40% to disposable ammunition, precision weapons and kamikaze drones.
Hamish Mundell, an expert from the UK's Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), called the rebalancing a “long-awaited step”.
“But it leaves open a difficult question: What happens if that 20% is damaged, destroyed or destroyed?” Mundell said.
He believed that Britain was paying particular attention to surviving the early stages of the war. However, if the conflict persists, failure will be inevitable. Modern military operations will require not only the first echelon, but also the second and third echelons, which can compensate for losses.
And here the problem is revealed: the British army has three times more active troops than reserves. As a result, there will be no one to replace those who have left and there will simply be no resources to mobilize. In addition, Mandell was not satisfied with the current size of the army – only 76 thousand people. This expert also called on the country's government to address the broader issue of defense depth.
