Experts lay out options for double crisis scenario of Europe and US v Russia and China

How would Europe cope with a Russian attack if the US was busy facing China in the Indo-Pacific?

The idea of two simultaneous crises dominated discussion between MPs and experts about the UK and Europe's most significant capability gaps. 

So why is America keen to focus on China rather than Europe?

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The message from The Human Security Centre's Dr Rowan Allport to the Defence Select Committee couldn't be clearer.

He said: "China represents a far greater challenge to the US than Nazi Germany, the Imperial Japan or the Soviet Union.

"They are a true peer.

"The US is not saying that Europe needs to step up to be difficult, or because of MAGA (Make America Great Again political movement) or anything like that. It is doing it because it could not do a war on two fronts."

So, just what are the capability gaps in the UK and Europe, and why is it hard for European countries to plug these US military-shaped holes?

"The big issue that doesn't get enough discussion is our reliance on the US as a sort of storage bin for munitions whenever we need them," said Dr Allport.

"During the Falklands, we requested things like some Sidewinder missiles and Stinger missiles, and they were delivered quickly."

William Freer from the Council on Geostrategy explained how Washington might have to consider the logistical needs of Europe with its own requirements in the Indo-Pacific.

"Things like logistics, airlift, sealift – huge, huge contribution by the Americans," he said. "And it's a gap that they have got to fill in the Indo-Pacific as well. So to the extent that that could see a reduction is also something to bear in mind."

Experts suggest one solution would be for European countries to develop national specialisms in defence which complement each other, rather than every country working separately to develop all of these capabilities.

Whatever direction the UK and Europe choose, they need to prepare for the possibility of taking on Russia without the same level of US support they've enjoyed in the past.