The incorrect notion of a defenceless Western Europe

So let’s say there’s some sort of crisis and USA is unable to come in and help.

What naval and air assets do the Western Europeans have at their disposal:

Without USA, Western Europe is more than capable of defending itself and has far more force projection than India or China or Russia:

– 5 carriers/combat aircraft capable LHD
– several other LHD
– numerous cruise missile delivery systems
– 27 large AWACS
– large tactical transport fleet
– growing strategic transport fleet (A400M in addition to British C-17)
– 40-50 air refuelling tankers
– 50 Tornado ECR electronic warfare aircraft (ala E/A-6B).
– 13 SSN attack subs as well as numerous SSKs including advanced German boats.
– Combat aircraft fleet is virtually 100% 4th generation with hundreds of 4.5th generation in service. And by 2020 they’ll have 5th generation in service with at least a couple of hundred F-35s in service by 2025 (and that’s assuming minimal orders by current F-35 partners).

– Nuclear deterrent includes airborne weapons but more importantly 8 SSBN.

By the way I’m excluding the like of Eastern Europe, Turkey and Greece or neutral countries ala Sweden or Switzerland.

Not exactly small fry as you can see.

This doesn’t include very well equipped land armies with hundreds of helicopters and large fleets of attack choppers, modern tanks (Leopard 2, Challenger 2 and Leclerc) UAVs etc etc.

Sure these are spread across several countries.

But most of these countries do have extensive defence integration down to the point where there is sometimes the existence of joint army brigades.

And unlike other major powers (China, Russia and India), the Europeans do not have problematic borders, hostile neighbours or ongoing insurgencies that require deployment of extensive troops and chew up resources that could otherwise be used on other national defence projects.

EDIT: Forgot to mention extensive combat experience as well as generally world class training.