I suspect most Europeans are well aware that Russia remains a nuclear superpower that has made clear its readiness to use its bombs. Yes, Russia has been exposed as a corrupt and pathetic conventional armed force but the problem, in the absence of a serious nuclear deterrence now that the United States has virtually withdrawn our umbrella (I'm assuming that France and England are not sufficiently robust enough to deter Russia-or at least equipped enough to convince Europe that they can deter Russia), is that Russia is free to attack exposed small European states, for example the Baltic nations, knowing Russia is invulnerable because Russia possesses the power of nuclear intimidation. Russia can attack and divide Europe with impunity, even in a weakened conventional state.
We have managed to invert the geopolitical/nuclear balance in Europe and leave Russia free to do mischief either now when it is relatively weak or in a couple of years when it regains its strength. Meanwhile, Russia will divide vulnerable European nations who need cheap Russian oil and gas (see the program of AFD in Deutschland).
We have ignited nuclear proliferation among the nations of Europe, no doubt in the Middle East in its turn. We in effect invited the European nations to cut individual deals with China, which they are now attempting to do. Why should they not?
So we have squandered the goodwill, the alliances, the riches of 500 million Europeans for what? The most I can determine that we have gained from our hubris is a misplaced and unbecoming sense of superiority derived from bullying former allies.
We have only begun at the Straits of Hormuz to pay the price for this foolishness.
I suspect most Europeans are well aware that Russia remains a nuclear superpower that has made clear its readiness to use its bombs. Really? That's news to me.
To this date, the United States of America is the only nation in the history of mankind to use nuclear arms in warfare.
For the life of me, I can't imagine what exactly Russia would need from Europe -- other than the right to be left alone, perhaps -- that would warrant any kind of military action on their part.
We have ignited nuclear proliferation among the nations of Europe, no doubt in the Middle East in its turn.
We might as well get used to it. Any national leader in the world today would have to be retarded if he isn't pursuing a nuclear arms program. It's really the only thing that will effectively keep adversaries -- now and in the future -- at bay.