EU Scares Voters With Russian Threat to Garner Support for Militarization, higher Military Spending

European leaders are constantly telling voters about the Russian threat to make them support a course towards militarization, including higher military spending and the reintroduction of conscription, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing EU officials.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on European countries last week to increase defense spending to be ready to "fight the Russians." He also urged member states to adopt a wartime mindset, claiming that allies were Russia's "next target." 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied that Russia had any plans of aggression against NATO or the EU, saying it was ready to register such guarantees in writing.

 According to the newspaper, EU security officials constantly make grim speeches and urge their citizens to prepare for war with Russia. However, a return to a wartime mindset among the Europeans is a challenge, as the post-Cold War era has seen Europe reduce military spending and increase social expenditure.