Europe Must Take a Stronger Role in Ensuring Its Own Security, Experts Warn
A leading group of peace research institutes in Germany has called for Europe to take a more active role in securing its own defense, as the global conflict landscape has become increasingly complex and volatile. The warning comes in the wake of the ongoing war in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as the rise of authoritarianism in the United States and shifting power dynamics in the international order.
According to the 2025 Peace Report, presented in Berlin on Monday, the world has witnessed a sharp escalation in conflicts in recent years. More than 122 million people were displaced in 2024, fleeing war and violence. The Gaza conflict has resulted in the loss of over 53,000 lives and the near destruction of the region, while the war in Ukraine has destabilized the continent. The report also highlights the world’s largest humanitarian crisis in the Sudan, where ongoing conflicts have led to widespread suffering.
The Trump administration, the experts argue, has pushed the NATO alliance and European security architecture to the brink of crisis, leaving the European Union with a pressing need to develop strategies to ensure its defense, particularly in the face of the threat posed by Russia. The report emphasizes the need to close gaps in military capabilities, to Europeanize arms procurement and to build common defense structures.
The ultimate goal, the experts stress, is to deter military threats through a combination of deterrence, military capabilities and alliance-building, while also ensuring that conflicts do not escalate through arms control and diplomatic initiatives. The report also warns of the “contagion of authoritarianism” posed by the Trump administration’s policies and emphasizes the need to defend liberal values in Europe.