Foreign Policy notes that many citizens may flee their countries when the prospect of war becomes real.
Attack < strong>Russia on European countries is turning from a hypothetical scenario into reality, as not a day goes by without Russian officials threatening Poland, Finland or the Baltic countries with missile strikes or invasion. However, Europe may not have enough people if Russia attacks.
Foreign Policy writes about this.
“It is therefore not surprising that 80% of Finns surveyed in 2022 said they were ready to defend their country. That same year, the Warsaw Institute of Entrepreneurship found that 66% of Poles were ready to defend their country, with many now volunteering to undergo basic training. Residents of other countries from the Baltic to the Black Sea have expressed similar determination to protect their lands and fellow citizens from a Russian attack,” the article says.
The publication noted that it remains uncertain whether there will be enough soldiers to fight Putin's troops. Frontline European countries may have a much bigger problem recruiting soldiers than Ukraine, as they have “grim demographic trends and have lost millions of people in recent decades.”
“The Russian invasion of Ukraine has made it clear that technology cannot replace soldiers in a major land war. They are needed to operate tanks and man the front lines in the trenches, move and service artillery, fly aircraft and drones, and seize and hold territory. Ukraine, for example, needs thousands of new soldiers every month to rotate forces, replace losses, and prevent further Russian advances,” the article says.
In addition, commenting on the sociologists' data, Foreign Policy notes that many citizens may leave their countries when the prospect of war becomes real. Their migration to the West will be much easier than it might have been if these countries were not yet members of the European Union. At the same time, there is demand from Western Europe, which is facing a population deficit and a need for labor.
“If these factors are not taken into account, the likelihood of emigration calls into question the ability of these countries to guard Europe's eastern borders,” the article says.
Recall, Russian submarines spotted near NATO countries: what the Kremlin is planning.
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