According to a recent EU report, it could take as long as a month and a half for NATO ground forces to reach the Eastern European member states in the event of a potential Russian attack. The leaked document highlights that Europe’s current infrastructure is far from adequate for the rapid movement of large military units.
The fresh report, prepared for the European Commission, warns that it could currently take up to forty-five days for NATO ground forces to make their way from Western European ports to the eastern member states if Russia were to launch an attack. Although the document does not name Hungary, the circumstances examined are similar in our country as well, according to Világgazdaság.
Experts note that even determining when and in what form NATO recognises a threat at the political level could itself pose difficulties. The report recalls that in 2022, prior to the invasion of Ukraine, there was no full consensus among member states on whether Russia was indeed preparing to act.
NATO members’ infrastructure is not ready for mobilisation
The main problem, however, is the extremely time-consuming redeployment. Europe’s transport infrastructure is not prepared for the rapid movement of large military formations. Many bridges are not strong enough, some tunnels are too small, and the often country-specific rail systems can also cause significant delays.
German Lieutenant General Alexander Sollfrank pointed out that adequate infrastructure is essential for military movements, as huge amounts of personnel and equipment would need to be transported both from across the Atlantic and from Western Europe.
Incompatible rail networks, outdated roads
The report also highlights several concrete problems within Europe that particularly hinder a rapid response. In many places, the rail network is not suitable for transporting heavy military cargo safely, for example due to excessively narrow loading gauges or unfavourable track gradients.
The differing rail gauges in the Baltic states also pose a problem, which is why Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are already working intensively on harmonising the network through a major joint project. The Iberian Peninsula likewise uses a separate railway system, leading to similar obstacles.
Road network development is also unavoidable, especially in Germany, which plays a central role in planning due to its geographical position and the presence of stationed US troops.
Solutions sought at EU level
EU member states have identified several thousand infrastructure points in need of improvement, of which around five hundred are considered particularly important by experts in Brussels.
To facilitate transport, the idea of a “military Schengen” is also being examined, which would ease administrative barriers for cross-border movement. At present, the same convoy often has to be authorised under completely different requirements in several countries, and plans to digitalise documentation have so far been delayed due to fears of cyberattacks.
The document also refers to a previous case in which the transport of French tanks to Romania took far longer than expected because the German authorities did not permit their onward movement by road. As a result, they had to be rerouted via sea and rail.
Deterrence is crucial
Governments are increasingly involving private companies to support these processes. In Germany, for example, the services division of an arms manufacturer provides comprehensive support for military units passing through the country.
Even so, experts warn that the task remains extremely complex: the number of vehicles and weapon systems involved is enormous, and moving even a single light division may require several thousand railway wagons.
According to senior officials leading the planning, this may seem excessive at first glance, but it is essential if NATO is to demonstrate credible deterrence. As the report concludes, the Alliance is only credible if it has prepared plans even for the worst-case scenario.
IT IS ALL MOOT.
Why?
Because Russia is transparently not interested in risking WWIII, atomic conflagration, and suffering huge losses to preside over resentful populations in countries with little to no natural resources.
Russia has such a huge land mass that most of it lays undeveloped, yet, not so undeveloped is that mass that they lack for raw materials of every kind.
Also moot because NATO does not have the capacity to wage war – for to do so one must have a populace that is both in good mental and physical condition and is so enthusiastic for the cause they are prepared to be mutilated for it.
Add to that that most Westerners think that The Western Elite, and their specific governments are where the trouble lays – not Russia and not China.
For more on this see Toroczkai László’s speech in Sochi, earlier this week.
Moreover, the EU has virtually no military industry, and, though the U.S. does have some military industry, it is so oriented towards producing extremely expensive weapons, that take forever to make, that even if NATO could field an enthusiastic army, the logistics are simply not there.
This reality has had a determining factor for why NATO positions in Eastern Ukraine are currently crumbling. As numerous Ukrainian commanders have commented, over the last year : ‘The Russians can fire in a day what we can fire in a month.
In a war decided principally by artillery superiority, especially drones, this is the main thing.
Moreover, Though this era has some chaotic elements that might make some think we are back in the 1920s, the industrial structure of the countries and the disposition of the societies are completely different.
This is why The Western Elite is trying to conquer Russia using mostly Ukrainian soldiers. Eastern European societies are the only ones left in The West that are still producing good crops of masculine young men, who could actually fight.
Just look at the U.S. Army – they who have made public in recent years that they cannot accept 77-83% of those who would enlist, because they are either mentally and or physically unfit.
Those who continue anticipate a Russian invasion are projecting their own mindset, for whatever reasons, not perceiving what reality is.
Of course, the Western Elite certainly is happy to make people as paranoid as possible – as that makes the untenable situation they have created, in the last decade, more tenable for them – not to mention that the Ukraine has been arguably the 2nd greatest money launderers, for the Western Elite,, in history, for a ten year period, after Switzerland.
In the end, however, this Western Elite is headed for a fall, for the most obvious of reasons – more and more people see what they are doing and simply unwilling to be manipulated to craven ends.
No, this war is going to come to an abrupt end, and soon, if for no other reason than it is one of the main things that is dragging President Trump’s popularity down, and he, having awakened to that, is removing Zelensky as we speak.
One day, before next Spring, we will all wake up to the news that President Trump has granted the Russian conditions; that he will meet the president of Russia, shortly thereafter, (in spite of Bruxelles screaming bloody murder) this war will become the focus of documentary filmmakers and historians.
Another horrific chapter in human history coming to a close.
I, for one, will cheer for all mothers and wives who will have to lose no more sons and husbands.
If only all of these Western Elite countries would have an enlightened, peace loving leader like Mr. Putin.
Sigh.
Good one!
How very very true, Dear Norbert!!!!
I would be more worried about the US invading Hungary than Russia.
“To be an enemy of the US is dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal”
What on Earth would the US want with Hungary ???
@Norbert, To install a more compliant puppet Government that will obey blindly the edicts of Brussels and Washington. Do you really think the globalist cabal is happy with Orban, Victor and Fidesz? They are not happy that they cozy up with Vladimir Putin.