Sitrep podcast: Could Europe successfully defend itself against Russia without US support?
Donald Trump's talk of telling President Putin to "do whatever the hell he wants" to Nato allies who in his words "don't pay" has been called unhinged, but he could end up becoming president again.
So Sitrep examines whether Europe could defend itself against Russia without American support if it came to that.
Professor Michael Clarke, a former head of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), and Forces News' Ukraine correspondent Simon Newton explain how European military capability compares to Russia's, while former Nato deputy secretary general Rose Gottemoeller gives an alliance insider's view.
Referring to Mr Trump's comments this week, which Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said would put US and European troops at increased risk, Prof Clarke told the Sitrep podcast that he believes the former US president's "mouth ran away with him, as it tends to do at an election rally".
But he added: "We do know it's what he thinks."
Prof Clarke highlighted that while Mr Trump might be right in terms of Nato nations' expenditure on defence, he has "no idea about everything else that Nato does".
"The idea that it's all one-way is just a complete misunderstanding of what the alliance represents," he explained.
Would Nato stand a chance?
Sitrep explores the notion of European Nato having to defend itself in a conventional war against Russia without US military backing.
Would it stand a chance? And if not now, then when?
Nato has around 3.3 million active personnel compared to Russia's just over a million. But if you strip out the US component, which is about 1.3million, you are still left with a two million-strong European force, about double the size of Russia's.
But notably, the Russians have an estimated 1.5 million men and women in reserve. Also, the Nato figure would include a big Turkish force and a Canadian component - assuming they would stick with the alliance.
On paper, if you stack up the Nato force even without America against Russia, it should be far superior.
Prof Clarke believes the issue that would face Nato is converting "what is there on paper into real short-term capabilities".
He added: "It's about making the paper numbers real in a capability sense. It is happening. The argument is, is it happening quickly enough?
"Are we converting those paper forces, to real forces, usable forces, over a 15-year period, 10-year period or a two-year period? That's the real argument that we are having at the moment."
:: The award-winning Sitrep podcast brings you discussion and analysis on defence, foreign policy and the stories affecting the Armed Forces, presented by Kate Gerbeau with expert analysis from Professor Michael Clarke.
Listen to the full episode of Sitrep on YouTube here or wherever you get your podcasts.
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