Mauro Gilli

Europe seeks to achieve security through greater strategic autonomy, but this requires the intellectual capacity to define objectives, align ends and means, anticipate adversaries, and adapt to uncertainty. A Policy Brief by Andrea Gilli, Mauro Gilli, and Niccolò Petrelli

European countries should plan for a Peace Enforcement mission and prepare for either Non-Combat Security Assistance and Support or for Mobile Rapid Reaction Force in order to be prepared for a “what if conflict resumes”. A Policy Brief by Andrea Gilli, Mauro Gilli, and Niccolò Petrelli

In a more dangerous and unstable world, Europe must thus prepare for war to maintain peace and its security: as Vegetius noted, si vis pacem para bellum. However, increasing budgets is not enough if the EU does not address key strategic questions.

Identifying the appropriate level of spending is difficult and there is not really any science about this. This is because different considerations play a role, including military strategy to political psychology.