Isn’t this a freaky thread? (As usual.) The pro-Pooty posters really need to have a conference and figure out amongst themselves if Russia is capable of inflicting serious harm to “The West” or not. I’d say yes, and it already has.
OTOH, are any “Zeepers” saying that even with more and better arms, Ukraine can just walk over Russia without a very difficult, costly, and deadly fight? (If they are, they are wrong.)
BTW, EU GDP for 2024 is estimated to be $19.35 trillion (nominal; 2024) ; $26.64 trillion (PPP; 2024)
USA GDP in 2024 is estimated to be $27.97 trillion (nominal; 2024 est.) ; $27.97 trillion (PPP; 2024 est.)[benchmark]
The EU figures of course leave out the UK, etc., but even by PPP, Europe’s GDP including non-EU countries still does not exceed the US by much.
It’d also be interesting to compare what portion of European GDP is tied up in Gov’t compared to the US. Russia too.
CERTAINLY too much of our GDP is based in our gov’t.