Council of Europe Head Warns 'We Are Not Well-Prepared' for War With Russia
Council of Europe chief Alain Berset told Newsweek that modern warfare "is evolving quite rapidly, and we need to adapt to this."
The Council of Europe's Secretary-General, Alain Berset, has warned that the continent may not be adequately prepared for a potential modern hybrid war with Russia. Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Berset stated that European countries must evolve to confront the challenge of hybrid threats. He pointed to the Russia-Ukraine war as an example of how war has changed, with conventional warfare replaced by drones and online interference campaigns.
Berset acknowledged weaknesses in European infrastructure, particularly in energy systems and security, and expressed concern that Europe is still in the process of catching up. Despite the challenges, Berset noted that Europe has made significant progress in recent years, particularly in defense spending. The EU's ReArm Europe Plan/Readiness 2030 campaign aims to pledge up to $800 billion in additional defense spending.
However, Berset emphasized the need for investment in democratic security and democratic values to counter the threat of right-wing movements gaining power through manipulation and extremist control. He warned that while Europe is investing in armies and armaments, there is a risk of "over-armed countries" lacking democratic control.
Berset stressed the importance of enhancing investment in democratic security to ensure a comprehensive approach to security and prevent extremist groups from taking control of well-armed armies.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
