This is what I mean when I say war may be inevitable anyways as looking weak will cause a war and being strong might cause a war. Of the two options, I'd rather be strong.
It think this is a sort of cold war mentality that has to be put to rest better sooner than later. It's simply way to simplistic when you consider the challanges that are present today. Which does not mean that 1. You do nothing and 2. You don't keep a good (first) strike capability.
For example, a strong military in Europe or the United States wouldn't have prevented (probably) the invasion in Ukraine. Or when you look at the defence budged of Europe and the US alone. It already is much larger than Chinas and Russias combined. And that doesn't even include all of the NATO members. Yet, they kinda scare a lot of people shitless like, omg! We fall behind they will take over everything! We need more rockets, ships, soldiers yada yada. Double our defence budged! Quick! But as we see right now in Ukraine Russias capabilities to orchestrate very large and complex military operations have been vastly exaggerated. Which isn't necessarily bad, as it's generaly better to overstimate your opposition rather than to understimate them. But like when I just look at Germany, we have a lot of administrative issues with our military as well and much less one that's purely about the defense spending. All the money in the world helps nothing if there is a bad or even corrupt system at work.
What I am trying to say is, money can not fix all problems here. And we have to be carefull not to get another very costly, very dangerous and useless arms race spending billions into "doomsday" systems (Can you say Star Wars?) that we hope to never use that will ultimately serve only to make the armamend industry rich while social and economic issues are ignored. There has to be a sort of balance here. Or you will simply loose the war on the domestic front. There is a very real risk that both Europe and the United States might see very serious turmoil in the near future due to growing inequality, economic strains and serious ecological threats. I fear the inflation right now, is only the foreshadoing of much much bigger issues to come which are simply fueled by our constant growing overconsumption. If our economies and societies have an achilles heel, than I would say it's that. Economic models which are largely based on unlimited growth.
Not to mention, a much larger risk anyway than our military qualities, which far exceed those of China and Russia anway, is the potential of a serious dissent within the NATO member states. Which is what's already causing some serious issues within the European Union for example where some leaders, like in Hungary, feel like they have to be best buddies with Putin, where as other states like Poland, would rather see him gone already yesterday and be a lot more involved in Ukraine. NATO and even more so the EU have a lot of political issues which are not resolved, hell it's not even really discussed in a serious manner, like a common defence strategy, foreign policy, how to treat refugees, asylumseekers and migration and many more topics. Those have a much larger potential to actually do some substantial damage than China or Russia - see Brexit as prime example. A direct military confrontation between Russia and/or China with us is not a real threat in my opinion. Infact the attack by Russia on Ukraine unified the EU and NATO more than any other event since the cold war was over. I mean think about it. Germany alone has over night decided to spend 100 Billion for defence. This might sound not like much compared to the US. But believe me, as far as German politics goes, it's like the hit of an (political) asteroid. But the money has also to be spend efficiently or it will be just wasted.
So as far as our "strength" or "resolve" is concerend, I am not really worried here if Russia and or China decide to become bigger "bullies". But that Russia and to some extend China, have lobbyied and supported the dissent within Europe and the NATO is far more concerning. Particularly because you have a quite large number of voters that actually don't even acknowledge their influence and manipulation out of a strange idea of free speech or outright denial. Like how was it possible for Russian Oligarchs to literaly "buy" their way in to so many institutions and nations? And not just them. China has been doing similar actions for years as well. Some of Greence largest harbors are either directly or indirectly controlled by chines corporations.
I quote "They sold this place to China and Russia," screamed the graffiti on a road along the Port of Piraeus, about a 20-minute drive from Athens.
To severe those kind of conections is much more difficult - as we can see with Russia right now - in case of military aggressions. Because at the end of the day, it might affect the livelihood of millions of people. People which might feel inclined to rather chose China and/or Russia when in doubt. So we not only have to keep an eye to the outside so to speak. We have to really be carefull with the outright corruption that's present in our nations as well.
