There are many European wars. Some are old, others are modern. Religion was a major cause of European wars. There were also conflicts arising over the threat from the Soviet Union. These wars erupted in Asia and Europe. You can read more about them here.
Europe's primary cause for war was religion
The history of religion and war dates back to the early modern era. Europe is a country where religion was the main focus of war. Religious conflicts drew the attention of the public, and they were followed closely, leading to the creation of a multitude of publications to provide real-time coverage.
Many times, wars of religion were fought between neighbouring countries or between foreign powers. They targeted entire populations and left tremendous collateral damage. These conflicts generally affected the common man. During World War Thirty, for example, mercenary soldier pillaged villages and demolished property.
Transatlantic cooperation
Although the United States and Europe were always considered allies, recent terrorist attacks show that the transatlantic relationship between the two countries has been strained. Europe will find its military relevance diminished in Washington's primary focus on international terrorism. This environment will force Europe to make substantial changes in order to be a reliable and influential US partner.
For Europe to avoid a new war, it is essential that transatlantic cooperation be more constructive. Washington and Europe share a commitment to the preservation of the transatlantic alliance, regardless of the differences in their relationships. Transatlantic cooperation will only work if allies agree on key global issues. Europeans are likely to be wary about Washington's willingness for constructive criticism.
Soviet threat
The Soviet threat to Europe's wars is real. It should not be taken lightly. Since the Cold War, the Soviet Union has developed its nuclear capability significantly, outnumbering NATO's equivalent in both numbers and range. In fact, NATO has been outnumbered nearly three-to-1 in artillery, antitank guns and air defense systems by the Soviets, making them the main player in Europe's traditional war. The Soviet Union also developed the mobile SS-20 missile that can hit any part of Europe in minutes. It has a range up to 5,000 km and can be used to strike any corner within minutes.
The Cold War saw the USSR as a polar opposite, with mutual suspicion and distrust towards each other. However, Soviet-American leaders started to negotiate and signed strategic arms limitations agreements in the 1970s. Brezhnev stated that peaceful coexistence was the norm. However, he warned that wars will still break out in Third World.
The effects of nuclear weapons
It is vital to understand the consequences of nuclear weapons for Europe's security, in a world with increasing nuclear threat. It is possible for them to have disastrous consequences. The Non-Proliferation Treaty review conference is fast approaching. Policy-makers are trying hard to keep up the pace with the rapidly changing nuclear threat. The number of nuclear-weapon states is increasing. Iran, for example, is estimated to have a breakout time of less than a month. The threat has been increased by the US president's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear accord.
Many European countries were open to the idea of building nuclear weapons following the Second World War. Some even began nuclear weapons programmes, including Sweden. Recent research revealed that Germany is closer to having nuclear weapons than most people thought. Germany's government considered creating a European nuclear bomb along with France and Italy. In fact Franz Josef Strauss, Germany’s defence minister, secretly signed an accord with his counterparts at Paris and Rome.