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Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A Coinbase Director Tracked Down 913,000 'Lost Forever' Ethereum Tokens Worth $3.4 Billion—Here's What Happened
Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below. The crypto world's 'hodl' philosophy just got a reality check. According to shocking new data from Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) Product Director Conor Grogan, over 913,000 Ethereum tokens—worth approximately $3.4 billion—have been permanently lost due to human errors, technical bugs, and coding mishaps. That's nearly 0.76% of all circulating ETH that will never see the light of day again. The Billion-Dollar Oops Moments The data reveals a sobering truth about cryptocurrency's unforgiving nature. Unlike traditional banking where transactions can be reversed and funds recovered, blockchain's immutable ledger means that one wrong click, one coding error, or one forgotten password can erase fortunes forever. Don't Miss: Be part of the breakthrough that could replace plastic as we know it— — no wallets, just price speculation and free paper trading to practice different strategies. The biggest single loss? The Parity Wallet bug that trapped over 513,000 ETH – worth roughly $925 million at current prices – across 178 wallets. This 2017 incident occurred when a user accidentally triggered a self-destruct function in a critical smart contract, locking away funds from multiple users permanently. Other notable casualties include the Web3 Foundation's loss of 306,000 ETH and the Quadriga exchange disaster that saw 60,000 ETH disappear into a faulty contract. Even more puzzling: users have collectively sent 24,000 ETH to burn addresses for reasons that remain unclear—digital money literally thrown into the void. The Hidden Ethereum Deflation Story While Ethereum's transition to proof-of-stake was marketed as an environmental victory, Grogan's research reveals an unexpected side effect: accidental deflation on a massive scale. The 913,000 ETH in permanently lost tokens, combined with the 5.3 million ETH burned through network fees, means over 6.2 million coins—roughly 5% of all ETH ever issued—are now permanently out of circulation. Trending: Grow your IRA or 401(k) with Crypto – . This creates an intriguing economic dynamic. Traditional economists worry about deflation in fiat currencies, but in crypto, permanent token loss effectively reduces supply, potentially supporting long-term price appreciation for remaining holders. The Real Number Is Likely Much Higher Grogan's $3.4 billion figure only scratches the surface. His analysis exclusively covers provably lost ETH—tokens trapped in identifiable smart contracts or sent to known burn addresses. It doesn't account for the potentially millions of dollars in ETH sitting in wallets where private keys have been lost, forgotten, or destroyed. Consider the early adopters who mined or bought ETH when it was worth pennies, stored it on old hard drives, and later forgot about it until prices skyrocketed. Or the investors who passed away without sharing wallet access with family members. These 'zombie wallets' could contain vast sums that appear active on the blockchain but are functionally dead. The data also excludes Genesis wallets—early Ethereum addresses that received tokens during the network's 2015 launch but have never moved their funds. Many of these are presumed abandoned, representing additional unreachable This Means for Investors For current ETH holders, this permanent supply destruction creates a complex investment thesis. On one hand, reduced supply typically supports higher prices over time. On the other hand, the data serves as a stark reminder of cryptocurrency's technical risks. The research highlights why institutional adoption has been slow and why many traditional investors remain skeptical. In traditional finance, consumer protections, insurance, and reversible transactions provide safety nets that simply don't exist in decentralized systems. For retail investors, the message is clear: crypto's high-reward potential comes with equally high responsibility. There's no customer service number to call when things go wrong, no Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. insurance to recover lost funds, and no 'undo' button for mistaken transactions. As Ethereum continues evolving with layer-2 solutions and upcoming upgrades, the network becomes more user-friendly. However, Grogan's data suggests that until self-custody becomes as foolproof as traditional banking, billions more in digital assets may join the ranks of the permanently lost. The crypto revolution promised to democratize finance, but it also democratized the risk of human error—and the consequences have never been more expensive. Read Next: A must-have for all crypto enthusiasts: . Image: Shutterstock This article A Coinbase Director Tracked Down 913,000 'Lost Forever' Ethereum Tokens Worth $3.4 Billion—Here's What Happened originally appeared on
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Yahoo
10 experiences you can't miss on your next trip to Minnesota
Welcome to the land of 10,000 lakes—Minnesota! The North Star State offers locals and visitors alike pristine national and state parks, a culture of welcoming communities, and a rich Scandinavian history—but that's only a small portion of what awaits you on this Midwest adventure. If narrowing down your options sounds daunting, we recommend you start with this list of not-to-be-missed experiences in Minnesota. The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is a million pristine acres of glacially-carved lakes and boreal forest along 150 miles of the Minnesota-Canada border—the place to go for a remote backcountry experience. Its western edge segues directly into Voyageurs National Park's similarly stunning 218,00 acres. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the park is nearly 40 percent water, and almost exclusively accessible by boat, which makes houseboating an iconic way to explore beyond a day trip. 'It's basically your floating hotel suite in the park,' says Scott Lennander, Voyagaire Lodge and Houseboatsgeneral manager and guide. Upscale rentals include a full kitchen, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a rooftop hot tub, and swim slide. It's news to some that Minneapolis is not, in fact, the capital of Minnesota. That honor goes to its twin across the river, Saint Paul, where architecture transmits compelling state history along Summit Avenue, the country's longest surviving Victorian high street. Nearby, the Cass Gilbert-designed white marble capitol building offers free guided tours every day but Sunday. 'When it's nice out, tours take you up to the roof, right next to the golden Quadriga statue, where you get one of the best views in the city,' says Jacob Rorem, Public Programs Specialist at the Minnesota Historical Society. 'You can see the Mississippi River Valley, the entire cityscape, all the way over to the Minneapolis skyline. It's pretty spectacular.' (Related: Paddling Minnesota's 'ancient superhighway'.) Mining companies stripped northcentral Minnesota's Cuyuna Range of its manganese-rich iron ore. Eventually, the companies left and nature took over. The mine pits filled with water, the shoreline emerged, and trees grew and thickened over decades. State and local organizations stepped in, creating Minnesota's first State Recreation Area, Cuyuna Country, which eventually included 70 miles of mountain bike trails. 'They're purpose-built,' says Aaron Hautala, an avid mountain biker and Cuyuna booster who helped with trail expansion. 'Every inch of the terrain was looked at to maximize flow, roll and momentum, engineered specifically for a two-wheel bicycle.' One of the few clues to the land's former use: the red, iron-rich dirt that clings to bikes and bikers like a trail souvenir. Cyclists travel from well beyond state lines for red dirt riding, creating a new, more gentle economy for the tiny twin towns of Crosby and Ironton (combined pop. 3,000). Hautala describes the low-key tourist vibe of the towns as similar to small mountain towns. Itasca State Park, Minnesota's oldest state park, was established in 1891 to protect the Mississippi River's humble origin. The park is where the iconic river begins its slow and steady stream. Visitors can access it at the end of a wide, paved path just 900 feet from a parking lot. 'It's very, very popular, especially in the summertime,' says Heather Funk, Itasca State Park Ranger and Visitor Services Coordinator. 'Any day of the week, it's going to be pretty busy with people splashing around and swimming and taking that perfect photo at the historic headwaters post.' For a less-crowded mid-week getaway, consider visiting the park in full fall splendor from September and October. There's more to the park than the headwaters, too. 'You can really have whatever experience you want, whether that's remote, rustic backcountry camping, the driving tour, or short little walks here and there,' Funk says. 'It's very accessible to everybody.' (Related: The essential guide to visiting Minnesota.) The urban melting pot that is the Twin Cities Metro is ringed in farmland—two key ingredients that feed a dining scene that's more ethnic and inspired than visitors often expect. 'Everybody knows somebody who has a farm,' says Diane Moua, James Beard-nominated Executive Chef () and owner of Diane's Place, one of the upscale Hmong American restaurants trending in Minneapolis. It's known for its airy scallion croissants, gingery Hmong pulled pork, and sticky rice. While you're in the Twin Cities, visitors should also try Vinai, a 2025 Best New Restaurant semifinalist for a James Beard Award. Moua's advice to visiting diners is to 'try everything,' including the small taco shops, including her favorite, El Taco Riendo, and market stalls, like HmongTown Marketplace in Saint Paul. Also on her list is the old-school Midwestern Matt's Bar, purported creators of the Twin Cities-famous Juicy Lucy, basically an inside-out cheeseburger popular enough to inspire a long line of patrons out the door. Prince is arguably Minnesota's most famous native, and tracing his roots introduces you to the arts community—deep and varied across mediums. Fans of the royal rocker should consider visiting Paisley Park, the compound where he lived and worked, located in Chanhassen, a suburb of Minneapolis. First Avenue, the star-studded indie club where he performed numerous times, multiple Prince-inspired murals, and his preferred record store can all be found in Minneapolis. And this fall, the State Theatre will host the world premiere of the Broadway-bound stage adaptation of Purple Rain. Go deeper with In the Footsteps of Prince, a highly-reviewed self-guided walking tour written and narrated by local writer Frank Bures. (Related: The most absurd foods you can eat at the Minnesota State Fair.) Visit the Paleozoic Plateau that includes southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and the northwestern corner of Illinois. This Driftless Area was never covered by ice during the last ice age. Today, Minnesotans and visitors appreciate the Driftless Area's cold-water trout streams and winding roads that run along tree-blanketed bluffs. Head to the Root River for outdoor fun, including fly fishing and tubing, or go cycling on the 42-mile paved Root River Trail, a former railroad located along the river's banks. Motor beyond that well-traveled valley for less well-known Driftless gems. The Newburgh Vintage Home and Garden and Small Batch French Bakeryoutside of tiny Mabel, Minn., for one, has a dedicated following for its classic brioche, scones, and croissants, despite only being open for a few hours on select Saturdays. Visitors from around the world travel to Highway 61 along Minnesota's North Shore, and for good reason. The North Shore Scenic Drive separates forested glacial ridges from basalt cliffs that plunge into saltless, sea-like Lake Superior, cutting a 150-mile two-lane path through unparalleled wild beauty. Along this famed route, roadtrippers will find eight state parks and the 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail. There's so much to experience; you can simply bypass full parking lots and follow whims to find relative solitude. 'Don't drive to make great time, drive to have a great time,' says Kevin Hanson, a regular North Shore visitor before landing the general manager position at Northern Goods, a new outfitter in artsy, outdoorsy Grand Marais. Two of his roadside favorites are Castle Danger Brewery, which uses Lake Superior waters in its brews, and Black Beach Park, with its otherworldly color created by the fine-grain waste from the taconite pellets once processed nearby. (Related: Best hotels in Minnesota for every type of traveler.) A New York newspaper correspondent visited Saint Paul in 1885 and deemed it, 'Another Siberia. Unfit for human habitation.' By the following year, local boosters had pulled together the first Saint Paul Winter Carnival, 10 days of parades, ice sculptures, and other outdoor-based revelry that's still held today, starting at the end of January. It set the example for hundreds of cities and towns to celebrate the embrace of winter's snow and frigid temperatures. In the Twin Cities alone, multiple options overlap each weekend. A more recently-established favorite, The Great Northern is a 10-day event filled with activities and amenities such as a sauna village, guided nature walks, and specialty cocktails served at a 50-foot ice bar—all designed to foster community and conversation about climate change. It, too, takes place towards the end of January. (Related: How Minnesota helped me find the magic of winter.) It's a myth that Minnesota has 10,000 lakes—there are actually 11,842 of them. They're sprinkled throughout the state, including the Twin Cities, where a chain of seven well-loved lakes—surrounded by trails, beaches, and restaurants—that offer classic easy-access recreation with a city skyline view. Drive 'up north' for a full week in the summer for a true lake experience. It's a Minnesotan's rite of passage. The beauty lies in its customized simplicity. Lake days are as active or chill as you want them to be with the prerequisite of knowledge about watersports and safety. It's not uncommon to hear the sound of the state bird common loon call at some point, and maybe catch the Northern Lights, if you're lucky. Choose your own adventure and visit one of Minnesota's popular lakes areas—Brainerd Lakes Area, Alexandria Lakes Area, Otter Take Lake Country, Detroit Lakes. Berit Thorkelson is a Minnesota-based freelance writer specializing travel, home and other lifestyle topics.
National Geographic
15-04-2025
- National Geographic
10 unforgettable ways to explore Minnesota
Welcome to the land of 10,000 lakes—Minnesota! The North Star State offers locals and visitors alike pristine national and state parks, a culture of welcoming communities, and a rich Scandinavian history—but that's only a small portion of what awaits you on this Midwest adventure. If narrowing down your options sounds daunting, we recommend you start with this list of not-to-be-missed experiences in Minnesota. 1. Go houseboating at Voyageurs National Park The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is a million pristine acres of glacially-carved lakes and boreal forest along 150 miles of the Minnesota-Canada border—the place to go for a remote backcountry experience. Its western edge segues directly into Voyageurs National Park's similarly stunning 218,00 acres. Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, the park is nearly 40 percent water, and almost exclusively accessible by boat, which makes houseboating an iconic way to explore beyond a day trip. 'It's basically your floating hotel suite in the park,' says Scott Lennander, Voyagaire Lodge and Houseboatsgeneral manager and guide. Upscale rentals include a full kitchen, three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a rooftop hot tub, and swim slide. 2. Delve into Minnesota's rich history It's news to some that Minneapolis is not, in fact, the capital of Minnesota. That honor goes to its twin across the river, Saint Paul, where architecture transmits compelling state history along Summit Avenue, the country's longest surviving Victorian high street. Nearby, the Cass Gilbert-designed white marble capitol building offers free guided tours every day but Sunday. 'When it's nice out, tours take you up to the roof, right next to the golden Quadriga statue, where you get one of the best views in the city,' says Jacob Rorem, Public Programs Specialist at the Minnesota Historical Society. 'You can see the Mississippi River Valley, the entire cityscape, all the way over to the Minneapolis skyline. It's pretty spectacular.' (Related: Paddling Minnesota's 'ancient superhighway'.) In the summer, locals and visitors visit Itasca State Park in Park Rapids, Minn. The park is home to the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River. Photograph by Joel Satore, Nat Geo Image Collection 3. Bike a former iron mine pit in Cuyuna Country Mining companies stripped northcentral Minnesota's Cuyuna Range of its manganese-rich iron ore. Eventually, the companies left and nature took over. The mine pits filled with water, the shoreline emerged, and trees grew and thickened over decades. State and local organizations stepped in, creating Minnesota's first State Recreation Area, Cuyuna Country, which eventually included 70 miles of mountain bike trails. 'They're purpose-built,' says Aaron Hautala, an avid mountain biker and Cuyuna booster who helped with trail expansion. 'Every inch of the terrain was looked at to maximize flow, roll and momentum, engineered specifically for a two-wheel bicycle.' One of the few clues to the land's former use: the red, iron-rich dirt that clings to bikes and bikers like a trail souvenir. Cyclists travel from well beyond state lines for red dirt riding, creating a new, more gentle economy for the tiny twin towns of Crosby and Ironton (combined pop. 3,000). Hautala describes the low-key tourist vibe of the towns as similar to small mountain towns. 4. Walk across the Mississippi River Itasca State Park, Minnesota's oldest state park, was established in 1891 to protect the Mississippi River's humble origin. The park is where the iconic river begins its slow and steady stream. Visitors can access it at the end of a wide, paved path just 900 feet from a parking lot. 'It's very, very popular, especially in the summertime,' says Heather Funk, Itasca State Park Ranger and Visitor Services Coordinator. 'Any day of the week, it's going to be pretty busy with people splashing around and swimming and taking that perfect photo at the historic headwaters post.' For a less-crowded mid-week getaway, consider visiting the park in full fall splendor from September and October. There's more to the park than the headwaters, too. 'You can really have whatever experience you want, whether that's remote, rustic backcountry camping, the driving tour, or short little walks here and there,' Funk says. 'It's very accessible to everybody.' (Related: The essential guide to visiting Minnesota.) 5. Eat food found in the Twin Cities' eclectic restaurants The urban melting pot that is the Twin Cities Metro is ringed in farmland—two key ingredients that feed a dining scene that's more ethnic and inspired than visitors often expect. 'Everybody knows somebody who has a farm,' says Diane Moua, James Beard-nominated Executive Chef () and owner of Diane's Place, one of the upscale Hmong American restaurants trending in Minneapolis. It's known for its airy scallion croissants, gingery Hmong pulled pork, and sticky rice. While you're in the Twin Cities, visitors should also try Vinai, a 2025 Best New Restaurant semifinalist for a James Beard Award. Moua's advice to visiting diners is to 'try everything,' including the small taco shops, including her favorite, El Taco Riendo, and market stalls, like HmongTown Marketplace in Saint Paul. Also on her list is the old-school Midwestern Matt's Bar, purported creators of the Twin Cities-famous Juicy Lucy, basically an inside-out cheeseburger popular enough to inspire a long line of patrons out the door. 6. Immerse yourself in art and the life of music royalty Prince is arguably Minnesota's most famous native, and tracing his roots introduces you to the arts community—deep and varied across mediums. Fans of the royal rocker should consider visiting Paisley Park, the compound where he lived and worked, located in Chanhassen, a suburb of Minneapolis. First Avenue, the star-studded indie club where he performed numerous times, multiple Prince-inspired murals, and his preferred record store can all be found in Minneapolis. And this fall, the State Theatre will host the world premiere of the Broadway-bound stage adaptation of Purple Rain. Go deeper with In the Footsteps of Prince, a highly-reviewed self-guided walking tour written and narrated by local writer Frank Bures. (Related: The most absurd foods you can eat at the Minnesota State Fair.) 7. Explore the 545-million-year-old Driftless Area Visit the Paleozoic Plateau that includes southwestern Wisconsin, southeastern Minnesota, northeastern Iowa, and the northwestern corner of Illinois. This Driftless Area was never covered by ice during the last ice age. Today, Minnesotans and visitors appreciate the Driftless Area's cold-water trout streams and winding roads that run along tree-blanketed bluffs. Head to the Root River for outdoor fun, including fly fishing and tubing, or go cycling on the 42-mile paved Root River Trail, a former railroad located along the river's banks. Motor beyond that well-traveled valley for less well-known Driftless gems. The Newburgh Vintage Home and Garden and Small Batch French Bakeryoutside of tiny Mabel, Minn., for one, has a dedicated following for its classic brioche, scones, and croissants, despite only being open for a few hours on select Saturdays. 8. Go roadtripping along the iconic North Shore Visitors from around the world travel to Highway 61 along Minnesota's North Shore, and for good reason. The North Shore Scenic Drive separates forested glacial ridges from basalt cliffs that plunge into saltless, sea-like Lake Superior, cutting a 150-mile two-lane path through unparalleled wild beauty. Along this famed route, roadtrippers will find eight state parks and the 310-mile Superior Hiking Trail. There's so much to experience; you can simply bypass full parking lots and follow whims to find relative solitude. 'Don't drive to make great time, drive to have a great time,' says Kevin Hanson, a regular North Shore visitor before landing the general manager position at Northern Goods, a new outfitter in artsy, outdoorsy Grand Marais. Two of his roadside favorites are Castle Danger Brewery, which uses Lake Superior waters in its brews, and Black Beach Park, with its otherworldly color created by the fine-grain waste from the taconite pellets once processed nearby. (Related: Best hotels in Minnesota for every type of traveler.) 9. Celebrate the winter with fun festivals and activities A New York newspaper correspondent visited Saint Paul in 1885 and deemed it, 'Another Siberia. Unfit for human habitation.' By the following year, local boosters had pulled together the first Saint Paul Winter Carnival, 10 days of parades, ice sculptures, and other outdoor-based revelry that's still held today, starting at the end of January. It set the example for hundreds of cities and towns to celebrate the embrace of winter's snow and frigid temperatures. In the Twin Cities alone, multiple options overlap each weekend. A more recently-established favorite, The Great Northern is a 10-day event filled with activities and amenities such as a sauna village, guided nature walks, and specialty cocktails served at a 50-foot ice bar—all designed to foster community and conversation about climate change. It, too, takes place towards the end of January. (Related: How Minnesota helped me find the magic of winter.) 10. Relax at one of the Minnesota's 10,000+ lakes It's a myth that Minnesota has 10,000 lakes—there are actually 11,842 of them. They're sprinkled throughout the state, including the Twin Cities, where a chain of seven well-loved lakes—surrounded by trails, beaches, and restaurants—that offer classic easy-access recreation with a city skyline view. Drive 'up north' for a full week in the summer for a true lake experience. It's a Minnesotan's rite of passage. The beauty lies in its customized simplicity. Lake days are as active or chill as you want them to be with the prerequisite of knowledge about watersports and safety. It's not uncommon to hear the sound of the state bird common loon call at some point, and maybe catch the Northern Lights, if you're lucky. Choose your own adventure and visit one of Minnesota's popular lakes areas—Brainerd Lakes Area, Alexandria Lakes Area, Otter Take Lake Country, Detroit Lakes. Berit Thorkelson is a Minnesota-based freelance writer specializing travel, home and other lifestyle topics.
Egypt Independent
07-03-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Can NATO survive without the United States?
Europe is staring down the barrel of a stark new reality where the United States being the backbone of NATO – the alliance that has guaranteed the continent's security for almost 80 years – is no longer a given. President Donald Trump's public animosity towards Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky, his willingness to embrace Russia's Vladimir Putin and recent comments casting doubt over whether he would defend NATO allies 'if they don't pay' have all forced European leaders to start thinking the previously unthinkable – is the US a reliable security partner at a time when the continent is being rocked by its biggest war since the 1940s? But NATO without the US is far from impotent, with more than a million troops and modern weaponry at its disposal from the 31 other countries in the alliance. It also has the wealth and technological knowhow to defend itself without the US, analysts say. The US and Germany are the biggest contributors to NATO's military budget, civil budget and security investment program, at almost 16% each, followed by the UK at 11% and France at 10%, a NATO fact sheet says. Analysts say it wouldn't take much for Europe to make up for the loss of Washington's contribution. If European countries unite and buy the right equipment, Europe 'could pose a serious conventional and … nuclear deterrent' to Russia, Ben Schreer, Europe executive director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), said in a Zoom call with CNN and other journalists in late February. A NATO flag flies in the wind during the 'National Guardian 2024' exercise as part of the 'Quadriga' series of Bundeswehr exercises at the Oberlausitz military training area in Saxony, Weißkeißel on April 30, 2024. Robert Michael/dpa/'Europe alone (still has) a capacity to muster the resources it would need to defend itself, it's just a question of whether (it is) willing to,' Schreer said. And that's the key question. Over more than 75 years and the administrations of 14 different US presidents, including the first Trump administration, the US has been the sinew that has kept the alliance together. During the Cold War, US troops on the continent were there as a deterrent to any Soviet ambitions to expand the Warsaw Pact alliance and eventually saw out its end when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. NATO campaigns in the Balkans in the 1990s were conducted with US troops and airpower. And, until the second Trump administration took office on January 20, Washington spearheaded aid for Ukraine. Those decades of trans-Atlantic solidarity may have come to an end in recent days, analysts say. Trump's Oval Office blow-up with Zelensky – after which he halted US aid to Kyiv – 'felt like a deeper rupture, not just with Ukraine, but with the US 'free world' strategy from Truman through Reagan,' Dan Fried, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and former US assistant secretary of state for Europe, said on the council's website. John Lough, a former NATO official who is now an associate fellow at the Chatham House think tank in London, sees an even more profound split in the alliance. 'It simply feels that the United States sees Europe more as a competitor, a rival, than an ally,' Lough told CNN, adding that because of that the commitment for Washington to defend NATO allies is somewhat in doubt. It's a fracture that Lough sees as unrepairable. 'Once you start to lose part of that commitment, you effectively lose it all,' Lough said. Some people in European circles are starting to ask whether Washington should be described 'in some ways as an enemy,' he said. But some analysts say a NATO without the US is not a bad idea. 'As soon as US allies become convinced that they can no longer trust in US capabilities to defend them when push comes to shove, they will rush to pick up the slack and work towards growing their own capabilities,' Moritz Graefrath, a postdoctoral fellow in security and foreign policy at William & Mary's Global Research Institute, wrote in War on the Rocks last year. 'It is in this sense that — perhaps counterintuitively — a withdrawal of US forces will create an even stronger, not weaker, Europe,' Graefrath wrote. Prime Minister of NATO member Poland, Donald Tusk, thinks this process has started already. 'Europe as a whole is truly capable of winning any military, financial, economic confrontation with Russia – we are simply stronger,' he said ahead of a European Union summit this week. 'We just had to start believing in it. And today it seems to be happening.' What does Europe have? In concept, a European military could be formidable. Turkey has NATO's largest armed forces after the United States, with 355,200 active military personnel, according to the Military Balance 2025, compiled by the IISS. It's followed by France (202,200), Germany (179,850), Poland (164,100), Italy (161,850), the United Kingdom (141,100), Greece (132,000) and Spain (122,200). US President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky meet in the Oval Office on Friday. Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images Turkey also has the most army personnel, which make up of the majority of frontline ground troops, with 260,200, France (113,800), Italy (94,000), Greece (93,000), Poland (90,600) the UK (78,800), Spain (70,200) and Germany (60,650), according to the IISS report. In contrast, there were about 80,000 US troops assigned or deployed to bases in NATO countries as of June 2024, a July 2024 report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS) says. Most of those US troops are in Germany (35,000), Italy (12,000) and the UK (10,000), the CRS says. Some of the larger NATO nations also have weapons equal to or many times better than what Russia has. Take aircraft carriers for instance. While Russia has a single, antiquated aircraft carrier, the UK alone has two modern carriers capable of launching F-35B stealth fighters. France, Italy and Spain field aircraft carriers or amphibious ships capable of launching fighter jets, according to the Military Balance. Aside from the US, France and the UK maintain nuclear forces, with both deploying ballistic missile submarines. The NATO allies besides the US have about 2,000 fighter and ground-attack jets among them, with dozens of new F-35 stealth jets included in that number. Ground forces include modern tanks, including German Leopards and British Challengers, donated units of which are now serving in the Ukrainian military. European NATO countries can field powerful cruise missiles, like the joint Franco-British SCALP/Storm Shadow, which has also proven itself on the Ukrainian battlefield. The Military Balance 2025 report notes that Europe is taking steps to improve its military forces without US help. In 2024, six European countries united in a project to develop ground-launched cruise missiles, made moves to increase munitions production capacity and to diversify their supplier base, looking to countries like Brazil, Israel and South Korea as new sources for military hardware. Analysts say even if the US were to completely pull out of Europe, it would leave important infrastructure behind. The US has 31 permanent bases in Europe, according to the Congressional Research Service – naval, air, ground and command-and-control facilities that would be available to the countries where they are located if the US were to leave. And Graefrath notes, that infrastructure would not be lost to Washington if there is regret after a possible US withdrawal. 'It leaves much of the US military infrastructure intact for an extended period (ensuring) that the United States retains the ability to make a military return if Europe were to fail to respond as predicted,' he wrote. What comes next? Some hope that the talk of a US withdrawal from NATO is just Trump bluster aimed at pushing allies to cough up and spend more on defense. They say the world, and another key US alliance, have been here before – during Trump's first administration, when he reportedly asked the Pentagon to look at options for drawing down US troops stationed in South Korea as protection against nuclear-armed North Korea. That came as Trump prepared for meetings with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un at which he hoped to persuade Kim to commit to giving up his nuclear arsenal. US President Donald Trump and North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un stand on North Korean soil while walking to South Korea in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) on June 30, 2019, in Panmunjom, Korea. Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images A source close to the White House told CNN at the time that a US troop pullout was viewed as something that could possibly happen in the future but 'not until long after (North Korea's) nukes are verifiably gone.' But Kim rejected all entreaties for him to give up his nuclear weapons program. The Trump-Kim meeting 'was sold as a big success despite that fact that it wasn't,' said Schreer. Afterward, the US returned to 'business as usual' on the Korean Peninsula, Schreer said. The US – with tens of thousands of troops in South Korea – kept them there. Bilateral exercises with Seoul's forces resumed, US warships visited South Korean ports and US Air Force bombers flew over the region. The same could occur in Europe if Trump doesn't get what he wants from Putin, analysts said. NATO could go on, with the recent threats to depart just a small bump in the road. 'If Putin tries to … screw Donald too much, even Donald Trump might recognize that,' Schreer said.
