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https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/15/defence-chiefs-russia-rearmament-security-britain-germany-europe>
"We write today not merely as the military leaders of two of Europe’s largest
military spenders, but as voices for a Europe that must now confront
uncomfortable truths about its security. Through the early years of our
careers, Europe was emerging from the shadow of the cold war. Governments of
all political colours chose to take what was known as the “peace dividend” –
investing in public services and reducing spending on defence. That was an
understandable choice at the time. Now it’s clear that the threats we face
demand a step change in our defence and security. European leaders, along with
military and civilian officials, have just discussed necessary consequences at
the annual Munich security conference.
As military leaders, we see every day from intelligence and open sources how
Russia’s military posture has shifted decisively westward. Its forces are
rearming and learning from the war in Ukraine, reorganising in ways that could
heighten the risk of conflict with Nato countries. This is a reality we must
prepare for; we cannot be complacent. Moscow’s military buildup, combined with
its willingness to wage war on our continent, as painfully evidenced in
Ukraine, represents an increased risk that demands our collective attention.
At the Hague summit last year, Nato leaders committed to spend 5% of GDP on
defence and security by 2035. This reflects our new security reality and
requires hard choices and prioritisation on public spending for all members.
As the chiefs of defence of two of Europe’s biggest security providers, we have
a duty to explain what is at stake, so that people can understand why our
governments have committed to the biggest sustained increases in defence
spending since the end of the cold war. That’s why it’s important that we
communicate the threat. People must understand the difficult choices
governments have to take in order to strengthen deterrence.
History teaches us that deterrence fails when adversaries sense disunity and
weakness. If Russia perceives Europe in this way, it may be emboldened to
extend its aggression beyond Ukraine. Indeed, we know that Moscow’s intentions
range wider than the current conflict. But the good news is that Europe is
powerful. Nato is the most successful military alliance in history and today,
together, its military might is unsurpassed. We have sophisticated capabilities
across land, sea, air and cyber domains, and nuclear deterrence. And we have
long been adapting to the new security reality: through building a new model
for European security, underpinned by engagement, readiness and collaboration.
This starts with Britain and Germany deepening cooperation. Our landmark
Trinity House agreement in 2024 is paving the way for unprecedented cooperation
that benefits both our security and economies."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
