Several of Europe's traditional powers have degenerated militarily to the point of collapse

Russia

Since the collapse of the former Soviet Union, Russia's military power and military-industrial base have shrunk considerably. Nonetheless, backed by powerful nuclear weapons, Russia remains one of the strongest military forces in Europe, with only the United States able to compete with it.

The article said that the former Soviet Union had a large and well-equipped conventional armed forces. But now Russia's conventional forces are not the same as before due to a lack of adequate funding, manpower and industrial base. Nonetheless, Russia remains the only one of the European powers that has maintained the ability to develop its own hardware. Whether it is nuclear submarines, ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, tanks, fighter jets, jet engines, or satellites built without outside assistance, the evidence is clear.

Russia's current military force is already very large. Compared to its neighbors, the Russian military is well-trained. However, the downside of the Russian military force is that its army still uses outdated Soviet weapons.

France

France has always had one of the strongest militaries in continental Europe. Unlike Britain, France retains a completely independent nuclear deterrent and an independent industrial base. It has its own nuclear ballistic missile submarine, which carries its own French-developed missiles equipped with French warheads. It also employs an air- and land-based nuclear deterrent of its own French-designed Mirage 2000N bombers and Asmp (ASMP) missiles.

Not only that, France retains a strong conventional military force. The French army is equipped with Leclerc main battle tanks and Tiger helicopter gunships. The French Navy has its own nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, and its carrier-based wing, with its mix of Rafale fighters and Supermarine Flag Attack Aircraft, is larger and more powerful than that of its traditional rival, the United Kingdom. In addition, the French Navy has six attack submarines, three amphibious assault ships and 21 surface ships. For its part, the French air force has 220 combat aircraft, including the Rafale and Mirage 2000, four aircraft with airborne warning and control systems (AWACS), 14 refueling planes and a fleet of tactical transport aircraft.

Britain

Once upon a time, Britain wielded the world's most powerful military -- the Royal Navy was a maritime juggernaut, and the British military built a vast colonial empire that ruled a large swath of the world. Britain is still a formidable force now, but it no longer has battleships capable of spanning the globe, relies on the United States for its missiles, and needs U.S. guidance for its nuclear tests.

Britain's aerospace industry, which had its glory days when it built and produced the Spitfire and the Gloster Meteor, has all but disappeared. Today, Britain must work with the United States and other European nations to build its own hardware power. And Britain's once world-leading shipbuilding capabilities have declined, and it has had to turn to the U.S. General Dynamics for help in building the Keiko-class submarine.

Germany

After two disastrous world wars in the 20th century, Germany's military has not developed much. Germany was divided for a significant part of the last century. During the Cold War, both East and West Germany had strong military forces, and West Germany's Bundeswehr (Federal Defense Force) was even better equipped. But after the end of the Cold War and the reunification of East and West Germany, Germany's military strength was very little left.