UK's Starmer warns Europe must prepare for war to deter Russian aggression

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a forceful call to action at the 62nd Munich Security Conference, warning that Europe faces a growing Russian threat requiring military preparedness and industrial integration. "We must be able to deter aggression and yes, if necessary, be ready to fight," Starmer declared, citing NATO assessments that Moscow could be positioned to use military force against the alliance by decade's end.

Russian Threat Persists Beyond Ukraine

Starmer emphasized that even if peace is achieved in Ukraine, Russia's rearmament would only accelerate, intensifying rather than diminishing the danger to European security. "The danger there will not be over for Europe. It will increase," he stated, urging comprehensive response to what he described as a full-spectrum threat. His remarks reflect growing European concern about long-term Russian military posture regardless of Ukraine conflict outcomes.

Europe's Untapped Potential and Integration Imperative

Describing Europe as a "sleeping giant," Starmer pointed to the continent's economic superiority—more than ten times larger than Russia's—and substantial defense capabilities that remain underutilized through fragmentation. "When these are stacked together, the sum often comes out less than its true value," he observed, calling for integrated capabilities, coordinated spending, and a common European defense industry. "We must stand on our own feet as Europeans," he concluded, framing collective defense industrial integration as the only viable path forward.