According to commentators at the German newspaper Welt, the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran have exposed the West’s lack of readiness for modern warfare.

The authors argue that the technological lag affecting both Europe and the United States creates serious risks and could lead to a crushing defeat in a major crisis. For years, Western military doctrine relied on superiority in technology, weapons and resources. The assumption was that more advanced systems would quickly overwhelm an opponent and bring a war to an early end. The fighting in Ukraine and Iran has shown that this approach no longer guarantees success.

Even an adversary that appears weaker on paper can prolong a conflict and deny the other side an easy victory. In such conditions, the resilience of society, the stability of infrastructure and the ability of the economy to endure sustained pressure become decisive.

The speed at which a country’s defense industry can expand ammunition and equipment production and replace losses is also critical. Even more important is how quickly armed forces and manufacturers adapt to changing conditions on the front line.

Welt also noted that Russia has sharply accelerated the introduction of new military developments during the conflict. In the summer of 2024, Russian forces began using fiber-optic-controlled drones on a large scale. Because these systems do not rely on radio links, electronic warfare equipment cannot disrupt their control.

NATO countries have already acknowledged that they are behind in these technologies. The authors believe the alliance would face serious difficulties in a war against the Russian military.