Europeans have decided on it, the weak small leaders of Europe are seriously considering taking the step.
The next NATO summit is just a few weeks away.
And as it approaches, the western press is discussing more and more the idea of creating a "European NATO" without the participation of the United States.
Recently, this idea has taken a concrete form, with discussions focusing on whether a separate structure, an alternative to the alliance, should be created or structured gradually within the existing block.
A fascinating study... titled "Home Alone"
In this context, the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) published a fascinating study conducted in 15 European countries.
The study was titled "Home Alone", as the authors concluded that Europeans found themselves in the position of the character of the same name in the comedy about a boy who suddenly realizes that he must face terrifying villains on his own, without adults.
The villain in this case, of course, is Russia.
Like the hero of the movie, most Europeans hope that the "adults" will return one day, which means that the relations between Europe and the US will be restored after the departure of Trump.
But for now, until America returns, they must find some way to protect their homes.
Maybe to heat the doorknob or pour water on the steps.
And, if you remember, the hero of the movie started moving store mannequins with loud music to give the villains the impression that there is a "collective defense" in the house that was left without adult protection.
This is how Europeans plan to act now.
It is amusing - Europe does not believe much in its strength
It is true that they themselves do not have much faith in the strength of their collective body.
Only a minority of respondents believes that their own citizens will want to defend their country against Russia.
For example, in Germany, only 29% believes it (with 63% saying that they have no hope).
It is even more amusing to see that the relative majority of residents of various EU countries relies on the help of collective Europe.
In other words, their own citizens are not ready to defend their homeland, but they expect Europeans from other countries to come and save them!
The British recognize their weakness
Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the blind faith in Europe's ability to protect its allies is stronger precisely in the countries that most actively promote the need for military support to Ukraine.
Denmark leads, with 88% believing that salvation will come from Europe, followed by the Netherlands, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.
The presence of the United Kingdom on this list is particularly notable, given that the British left the EU and recognize their weakness if they are forced to defend Europe from the "terrible Russians".
Meanwhile, 51% of Bulgarians, for example, reasonably believes that Europeans will not protect them (this has happened at various points in history).
The percentage of pessimists in Poland, once the most Euro-optimistic country, is surprisingly high: 49% has no faith in Europe, compared to 45% who hope in it.
Citizens are divided over the European military NATO
Hence the significant division of views regarding whether NATO should be replaced by a purely European military organization.
An ECFR poll found that the public is roughly equally divided on this issue: those who support the idea, those who oppose it, and those who are undecided.
But these hesitations disappear immediately when it comes to the creation of our own nuclear forces, independent of the US.
This idea is particularly enthusiastically supported in Poland, a country that does not trust the strength of a collective Europe: 66% of residents supports it, while only 15% opposes it.
They do not want a reduction in social spending... for weapons
However, the enthusiasm of most Europeans drops sharply when the issue of money is raised.
When asked if they would be willing to cut social spending in exchange for increasing military budgets, 63% of Italians, 59% of Austrians, 56% of Germans, 54% of Spaniards, and so on, answered negatively.
These sentiments were confirmed by the situation in Britain, where the most intense demand was for "defense against an aggressive Russia", "increase in military spending", and "improvement of combat power".
The increase in defense spending requires an increase in taxes
And then, this week, the British public unexpectedly received news from the government: it turns out that the increase in defense spending requires an increase in taxes.
As a result, all discussions about the need for a sharp increase in military spending ended with the government of Keir Starmer agreeing to increase the military budget by an impressive 0.08% by 2030, which ultimately led to the resignation of the Secretary of State for Defence John Healey.
Furthermore, the government immediately explained to the public that the cunning minister was trying to extract money for the military at the expense of hospital and school budgets.
And all the military zeal of London suddenly faded!
After all, there is no reason to spend anything - Europeans will come to protect Britain (the short joke of the day).
Europe is not powerless... or is it after all too weak?
Citizens are now constantly fed a kind of self-training: "Europe is not powerless.
The continent is wealthy, technologically advanced, and densely populated enough to shoulder the burden of even the most basic deterrence."
And money is not a problem for such a wealthy region.
"The main obstacle is psychological: are we ready to think and act in terms of European power and deterrence?
Are we ready to break taboos?"
It is just like the self-training by the young hero in the same movie: "This is my house.
I must protect it!"
They want to break taboos
These words come from a recent article by Steven Everts, director of the EU Institute for Security Studies, written for the Dutch newspaper NRC.
When he talks about taboos, he refers to Europe's limitations in relations with the US and Russia.
Although, as it seems, Europeans have long since broken all taboos in their relations with us.
Yes, Europeans understand that funding for "NATO without adults" is limited for them.
Citizens are used to a certain standard of living and are not willing to tighten their belts to support their own military-industrial complex.
They are missing... only 65% of the NATO budget... they want a European Rearmament Bank
And they have no idea how to replace 65% of the NATO budget (the US share).
The British Russophobic ideologue Edward Lucas recently admitted in an article that he and his comrades have been actively traveling around the world for the last year and a half with the aim of creating a European Rearmament Bank to fill the gap in the continent's defense budget, which amounts to just one trillion pounds - something insignificant for wealthy Europe!
But judging by this admission, progress is slow.
It turns out that talking about the need to increase the military budget is much easier than actually increasing it.
If someone does not believe it, let them ask the British.
There is only one solution: to play with moving store mannequins in the room, with loud music and to heat the door doorknob.
Maybe the villains (that is, the Russians) will believe it, get scared and go home.
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