Europe Not Ready for War Yet, Denmark’s Top General Warns

Europe is not yet prepared for a potential large-scale future conflict, Denmark’s chief of defense staff cautioned on Tuesday.

His remarks brought to the fore mounting concerns about the continent’s security outlook in the face of an increasing threat from Moscow.

Speaking at the Paris Defence and Strategy Forum, Gen. Michael Wiggers Hyldgaard urged European allies to accelerate military readiness as warnings grow that Russia could test NATO’s defenses later this decade.

“We have to change our mindset from diagnosis to delivery. We’re no longer very surprised but we’re not also really ready,” he said at the third edition of France’s flagship defense conference, according to Politico.

Military and intelligence leaders across Europe have increasingly suggested that Moscow could pose a direct threat to NATO territory before 2030, prompting calls for faster rearmament and stronger coordination among allies.

Denmark has expanded its defense budget significantly since Russia’sfull-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Copenhagen has also pursued closer cooperation with European partners, including joint exercises.

“We do not need to be perfectly prepared, we need to be better prepared than our adversary,” the Danish general said.

“If in Europe we want to be able to defend ourselves by 2030, we must prepare for it now. High intensity warfare is not a scenario, it’s a reality,” he added.

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