Europe needs ‘emergency mindset’ to survive, warns Danish PM
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has issued a stark warning to the continent, declaring that Europe must adopt an “emergency mindset” if it hopes to survive the escalating geopolitical tensions and the persistent threat posed by Russia. In a candid assessment of the region’s security architecture, Frederiksen argued that the current pace of decision-making and defense production is insufficient to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world order.
The Danish leader’s comments come amid growing concern in European capitals regarding the capability of the defense industry to scale up production. Frederiksen emphasized that the continent can no longer afford to operate on peacetime schedules while facing a war on its periphery. She urged European nations to bypass standard bureaucratic hurdles and accelerate military procurement processes, drawing a parallel to the urgency displayed during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the Prime Minister, the same level of decisive action and resource mobilization is now required to ensure European sovereignty and security.
Frederiksen pointed specifically to the situation in Ukraine as a primary driver for this necessary shift in strategy. She noted that while Russia has successfully transitioned its economy onto a war footing—rampantly increasing the production of artillery, ammunition, and military hardware—Europe has largely remained within the comfortable confines of normal economic planning. This disparity, she warned, creates a dangerous vulnerability. “We are not scaling up fast enough,” she stated, highlighting the risk that hesitancy could lead to irreversible strategic losses.
The call for an “emergency mindset” also encompasses a shift in how defense is funded. Frederiksen suggested that European governments might need to make difficult conversations with their electorates about prioritization, potentially diverting funds from other sectors to bolster national security. She stressed that without security, other societal pillars such as welfare and economic prosperity are fundamentally at risk.
Furthermore, the Prime Minister touched upon the broader implications for the NATO alliance and the transatlantic relationship. With political uncertainties in the United States, she reinforced the narrative that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own defense. This involves not only meeting the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defense but potentially exceeding it significantly in the coming years.
The warning concludes with a somber reminder of the stakes involved. Frederiksen asserted that the window for preparation is narrowing. By adopting an emergency mindset now, Europe can deter future aggression; failing to do so, however, could jeopardize the very survival of the European project and the safety of its citizens in the face of an increasingly aggressive neighbor.
