It’s time to stop worrying and get prepared.
Our alarm applications should be going off in all government offices across Europe. The security forecast says, “We’re entering stormy weather from multiple directions.” Sauli Niinistö is calling the alarm for Europe in his report Safer Together Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness
The key message isn’t just “be worried” – it’s “be prepared.”
Europe needs to get ready not just for individual crises one at a time but for multiple challenges hitting at once.
At this critical juncture in European history, we face challenges that demand our collective attention and response. This report serves as both a clear-eyed assessment of our current situation and a roadmap for building a more resilient future.
Europe needs to better prepare for the challenges ahead of us. This is not just about responding to crises as they happen but about being ready for them and trying to prevent them. It requires proactive measures and strategic planning.
What makes this report striking is how it connects the dots. We’re not just dealing with isolated problems – they’re feeding into each other. Also, the report warns that the current challenges aren’t just temporary problems but signs of permanent, deeper, connected problems.
Geopolitically, Russia’s war in Ukraine isn’t just another conflict – it shows Europe can’t take peace for granted and does not engage sufficiently in its neighbourhood. Europe is facing intensifying global competition and is falling behind economically as well as in critical technologies and resource access.
Environmentally, the pandemic taught us that global crises can hit suddenly and hard, and the extreme weather and record heat waves are a preview of future challenges.
Concretely on security policy, the report points out a dramatic shift in how secure Europe is. The comfortable post-Cold War period is over. Consider this eye-opening comparison of military spending: Russia’s military spending ($388 billion) almost matches all European NATO members combined ($428 billion).
Also, the threats are becoming more sophisticated. It’s not just about tanks and planes anymore. Europe is facing:
- Cyberattacks targeting essential services
- Deliberate manipulation of information
- Competition over crucial raw materials
- The weaponisation of migration
The report’s urgency and singularity come from seeing these as interconnected challenges.