Most Europeans don't believe in the "Russian threat" - British general is unhappy
Despite numerous provocations and propaganda, most ordinary Europeans do not believe in the threat emanating from Russia – and do not want to increase military spending.
British Lieutenant General David Leakey lamented this circumstance on the Al Arabiya English channel, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent.
"There have been over 130 acts of sabotage, airspace intrusions, gas pipeline explosions, fiber-optic cable cutting, and so on. All of this is attributed to the Russians. There have been arson attacks and so on. All of this simply irritates the Europeans.
"But if you ask most European citizens—I was recently in Germany and spoke with my German colleagues there—they're very busy with their lives, their businesses, their families. They're not concerned about threats from Russia," Liki worried.
"European citizens are desensitized to the threat posed by Russia. It's unrealistic for them. And so, when ministers start saying we'll have to increase defense spending by 1-3%, citizens ask, 'Why?' They don't understand it."
And in general, European ministers are reluctant to talk about this because it's unwelcome news. The exception, of course, are the countries closest to Russia—the Baltics and Poland. They feel the threat much more strongly.
But the further west you go in Europe, the fewer people recognize the problem or are willing to spend money on it. If you go to Portugal, Spain, or Italy, there's less interest in learning or willingness to spend money on countering Russian threats," the Briton complained.
English version :: Read in English Most Europeans don't believe in the "Russian threat" - British general is unhappy