(MENAFN) Europe must urgently bolster its defense capabilities, as Russia’s war in Ukraine has placed the continent in a “grey zone” between peace and conflict, warned Gen. Sean Clancy, chair of the EU Military Committee.

Clancy, an Irish air corps general who assumed the EU’s top military position in June, told reporters that Europe can no longer assume stability along its eastern flank. “The world is on fire in many places, and Ukraine represents the front line for Europe at this point in time,” he said.

He stressed that rising defense spending across Europe should not be seen as militarization or an attempt to create a unified EU army, but rather as a necessary response to current threats. “No member state is immune to it. I’m talking about hybrid threats here. I’m talking about terrorism. I’m talking about many areas such as cyber, space,” he added.

Clancy noted that geography no longer offers protection against borderless threats like hybrid warfare, highlighting recent drone incursions at European airports. He argued that stronger armed forces are needed, but so is a broader societal effort to build resilience. “Preparedness isn’t about preparing for war. It’s about readiness and resilience,” he said.

While rejecting claims that Europe had previously been inactive, Clancy acknowledged the ongoing push for increased defense spending. He noted that U.S. calls for European investment began under former President Obama, but momentum accelerated under Trump. “That transatlantic relationship will remain important, but it’s evolving. The US has been very clear in asking us to do more,” he said.

Clancy also highlighted the growing role of EU institutions in coordinating Europe’s defense buildup, describing security as now being “near the top of the political agenda” in Brussels. “It is palpable, the sense of purpose, direction, and momentum. Everybody wants it to move faster,” he said.

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