There are many conflicts in Europe. Some of them are very old while others are more recent or modern. One of the main causes of European wars was religion. There were also conflicts arising over the threat from the Soviet Union. These wars occurred in Asia and Europe. You can learn about them in this article.
Europe's main cause of war was religion
History of religion and war goes back to the early modern age. In Europe, wars were often fought over religion. Religious conflicts attracted attention, and people began to follow closely. This resulted in a number of publications offering real-time coverage.
Wars of religion were often waged between neighbors and foreign powers. These wars of religion targeted entire populations, causing great collateral damage. The victims of such conflicts were generally common people. During the Thirty-year's War, for instance, mercenary troops pillaged villages and destroyed properties.
Transatlantic cooperation
While Europe and the United States have always been allies, the recent terrorist attacks has shown that the transatlantic relationships are less stable. Europe will struggle to maintain its military relevance in Washington, as the United States is primarily focused on international terrorism. For Europe to remain a trustworthy and influential partner in the United States, it will have to make significant changes.
It is important to have a constructive transatlantic partnership in order to avoid a second war in Europe. Washington and Europe both believe in maintaining the transatlantic alliance despite differences. Transatlantic cooperation only works if current allies can agree on important global issues. Europeans are likely to be wary about Washington's willingness for constructive criticism.
Soviet threat
The Soviet threat to wars in Europe is real and growing, and should not be taken lightly. The Soviet Union has significantly improved its nuclear capability since the Cold War. It is now far more advanced than NATO in terms of range and numbers. The Soviets are now the dominant player in Europe's conventional war, while NATO is outnumbered almost three to one in artillery and anti-tank guns. The Soviet Union developed its mobile SS-20 rocket, with a range exceeding 5,000 kilometers. This missile can strike in minutes and reach every corner of Europe.
During the Cold War, USSR and USA were polar opposites with mutual distrust and suspicion towards one another. However, Soviet and American leaders began to negotiate agreements regarding strategic arms limitations in the 1970s. Brezhnev in 1973 declared that peaceful coexistence was the norm but warned that wars would still erupt in the Third World.
The impact of nuclear weapons
In a world of increasing threat from nuclear war, it is crucial to understand what the nuclear weapons have on Europe's safety. The consequences of their use can be devastating. As the Non-Proliferation Treaty Conference draws near, policy-makers try to keep up with rapidly evolving nuclear threats. Meanwhile, nuclear-weapon states are growing their arsenals. Iran is one example. It has an estimated breakout speed of less than a week. The US president's decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal has only increased the threat.
Many European countries began to consider building nuclear weapons after World War II. Some even began nuclear weapons programmes, including Sweden. Recent research has revealed that the country is now closer to possessing nuclear weapons than people believed. 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.