Overview
- France’s armed forces chief Gen. Fabien Mandon urged psychological and practical readiness, saying the country must be prepared to “accept losing our children” in a potential confrontation by the end of the decade.
- NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte cautioned that Europe must be ready for war on a scale not seen in generations, and the UK’s Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said security cannot be left to the military alone.
- Reports of Russian gray-zone activity — from undersea cable damage to drone and airspace incursions in the Baltic and Gulf of Finland — are widely viewed as probes of NATO response rather than a bid for open conflict.
- Transatlantic tensions are rising as Washington pivots toward China and presses Kyiv on ceasefire terms, prompting Europe to accelerate spending, place major orders for U.S. systems, and pursue industrial tie-ups such as the Airbus–Leonardo–Thales space venture and Rheinmetall–Lockheed projects.
- Public opinion remains split, with polls showing 77% of Poles see a high risk of war versus 34% of Italians, and an average 69% across nine countries saying their nation could not defend itself against Russia.