Dutch Military Analyst: NATO Is Stronger Than The Russian Army, But The Key Question Is Whether We’re Ready To Fight
NATO has a significant military advantage over Russia, but European countries remain vulnerable due to a shortage of air defense assets and combat experience in modern warfare.
Dutch military analyst Patrick Bolder, defense and security expert and strategic advisor at the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS), expressed this view in an interview with Ukrinform, UATV English reports.
“NATO is stronger than the Russian army. But the key question is: are we ready to fight? I think we need to rely less and less on the US. However, in air defense we have serious gaps. We don’t have capabilities like the United States — we lack the air defense assets to protect ourselves. And Russia is waging war, including through massed use of missiles. If we can’t repel missile attacks, will we have enough troops to withstand the first strikes? Will we have enough strength and endurance to respond afterward? That’s where our main vulnerability lies,” the expert said.
According to him, the second problem is that European NATO armies currently lack combat experience like Ukraine’s: “First and foremost, experience of modern warfare, given how its nature has changed. And this poses a serious danger for us. There’s currently an active exchange of experience between NATO and Ukraine, but are we learning the lessons fast enough? Are we able to implement them in our armed forces? That’s a big question. Because quite a few people say the next war won’t look like the current one.”
It was previously reported that the Netherlands will take part in the Coalition of the Willing exercises.
Read also: Russia Has No Say in Ukraine’s EU Accession Process, European Commissioner Says
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9 of November 2026
