PRAGUE: Europe has increased defence spending since Russia invaded Ukraine, but its defence capacities including military manpower are still insufficient, a British security think-tank warned on Friday.
The findings by the International Institute for Security Studies (IISS) come as Donald Trump´s return to the White House has raised fears that he could upend European security and pull the plug on support for war-torn Ukraine.
The IISS published its latest report as it hosts the Prague Defence Summit, bringing together politicians, army officials and other experts to discuss ways to boost Europe´s defence posture.
Russia´s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 had uncovered multiple weaknesses in Europe´s ability to defend itself, the IISS study said.
“Defence spending of Nato´s European members in 2024 is almost 50 percent higher than it was in 2014, when Russia annexed Crimea,” it said.
