The Chief of the British General Staff, Richard Knighton, and the German Chief of Defence, Carsten Breuer, have stated that they are addressing the public not only as military leaders but also as "voices of Europe, which must confront uncomfortable truths about its own security."
In a joint article published in The Guardian and Die Welt following the Munich Security Conference, they warned that Russia's military focus has "decisively shifted westward" and that a significant shift in European security and defence policy is necessary.
"There is a moral dimension to this endeavour. Rearmament is not an advocacy for war, but a responsible decision by states seeking to protect their citizens and preserve peace," their article states.
However, public opinion polls show significant resistance among citizens in both countries to the economic sacrifices that would be required to increase defence spending. Although a majority of respondents believe the outbreak of a third world war is more likely than not within the next five years, willingness to raise taxes or cut public spending remains low.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that there is an urgent need for stronger European cooperation in defence, including joint production and procurement of military equipment. He emphasised that Britain wants to be at the centre of a stronger European defence structure.
On the other hand, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that freedom can no longer be taken for granted, stressing the need for decisiveness in confronting threats.
Military leaders warn that the perception of weakness or division in Europe could encourage Russia to expand its aggression beyond Ukraine. "History teaches us that deterrence does not work when adversaries sense weakness and disunity," they note.
They also called for the concept of "whole-of-society defence," which involves integrating civilian infrastructure, the private sector, and state institutions in preparations for potential crises.
Britain and Germany have already deepened cooperation through an agreement known as the Trinity House Agreement, while both countries are simultaneously increasing military spending and industrial capacities. Germany plans to permanently deploy a brigade of several thousand soldiers on NATO's eastern flank, while Britain is building new ammunition factories to ensure continuous supply.
The debate on European security has been further intensified nearly four years after the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as well as due to uncertainty regarding future US support for the NATO alliance following Donald Trump's return to the White House.
NATO leaders agreed at last year's summit in The Hague on a target of allocating 5 percent of GDP for defence and security by 2035, which would represent a significant shift from previous policies.
Nevertheless, political divisions remain pronounced, particularly in Germany, where both left-wing parties and the far-right Alternative for Germany oppose increases in the military budget.