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Europe's decades of underinvestment in defence "is no longer merely inefficient - it is dangerous", former UK Chief of Defence Staff has warned.
09:16, Wed, Feb 11, 2026 Updated: 09:18, Wed, Feb 11, 2026
Carter warns drift no longer neutral option (Image: Getty)
Europe's decades of underinvestment in defence "is no longer merely inefficient - it is dangerous", a former UK Chief of Defence Staff has warned. General Sir Nick Carter said the continent faces growing external threats at the same time as its political, fiscal and industrial systems are struggling to respond. In a stark warning ahead of a security conference in Germany this week he said: "The path ahead for Europe’s leaders will not be easy; they cannot afford to fail. Drift is no longer a neutral option."
The General added: "Europe faces a growing external threat in an evolving world order at the same time as its political, fiscal and industrial systems are struggling to respond. After decades of underinvestment in defence, this is no longer merely inefficient – it is dangerous." His intervention comes in a new paper from a think tank founded by former Prime Minister Tony Blair, which was developed alongside similar groups from the continent.
It argues Europe "should be a superpower: economically, politically and militarily," but that the continent's failure to act reflects "decades of strategic complacency."
The chilling warning states European security has rested on "fragile assumptions" since the end of the Cold War, including that the US would remain a "global policeman" and that China could be managed through "rules and institutions".
It argues that these assumptions "did not collapse overnight - but the world around Europe has hardened".
The report, backed by General Sir Nick, sets out five tests it says European leaders must meet to ensure the region's future safety.
They include backing Ukraine in its ability to defend itself from future aggression, imposing further limitations on Putin's abilities to interfere in electrons and addressing a slump in defence spending.
Whilst the paper backs the continent remaining within NATO, it cautions that European states must contribute more rather than relying on the United States.
THE FIVE TESTS
- Integrate Ukraine into Europe's defence and industrial base, and stop treating the county as one in need of support, but as one of Europe's most experienced military actors.
- Impose clear costs on Russia for sabotage, subversion and aggression across Europe, including for political interference.
- Address challenges in slow acquisition cycles in peacetime, and insufficient industrial capacity in the arms sector.
- Rebuild public consent through a social contract on defence to address that fact that a third of 18 to 40 year olds saying they would refuse to serve in the armed forces.
- Speed up the pace at which European institutions can make decisions to respond to major security concerns.
An MoD spokesperson said: "Our commitment to NATO is unwavering and we are stepping up on European security, with a NATO first approach and UK leadership of the Coalition of the Willing to secure a peace in Ukraine."
They added: "As the Strategic Defence Review set out, lessons learnt from Ukraine driving a landmark shift in the UK's deterrence and defence capabilities, backed by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War including an extra £5billion for defence this year alone."
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However the government's current approach to defence has been panned by critics, including the Conservative Party. The government's handling of the Chagos deal, which would see the UK handing billions to a foreign government, has been slammed by James Cartlidge, the Shadow Defence Secretary before.
He previously called for the government to ditch the plan and "spend the money on our armed forces instead".
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