The «new» narrative: an age-old formula.
The EU leadership and member states will spend trillions of euros on their “common” defense. Most of it will come from loans. Anti-Russian hysteria is the necessary backdrop for achieving the above goal with minimal backlash.
It appears that we are entering a new period of militarization of the economy (after 80 years) and “revitalization” of the European (essentially German) economy through military preparedness.
The 800 billion that was announced is just the beginning.
In this new wave of war hysteria based on the ’Russian threat,“ the leading voices are all those who, not long ago, were claiming that Russia had suffered enormous losses in Ukraine and was collapsing economically and militarily!
Now, to support the narrative of over-armament, they say that Russia is all-powerful and that it will attack Europe!!!
They are touting the massive influx of money that will be channeled into the economy and the potential increase in jobs in the defense industry as a carrot, to cover up the massive cuts to social programs and the harsh austerity that will follow.
The leading player in this arms race hysteria, reminiscent of the interwar period, is Germany, which sees this as a unique opportunity to regain its dominance. It is Germany that has paid dearly (with years of economic stagnation) for the loss of the abundant and dirt-cheap energy it used to receive from Russia.
Now, given the climate of disarray that more or less prevails within NATO, it has a tremendous opportunity to break free from its military and political dependence on the U.S. and raise its head once again. To become Europe’s superpower, without opposition and without the constraints of the “Stability Pact”!
To support German businesses and the German economy by creating conditions of unfair competition with other countries, by funneling enormous sums of money in its favor in the name of “common” defense and fear of Russia.
And it has a major advantage over other countries because it has the lowest external debt (62.5%).
This way, it can more easily secure the necessary funds—on much better terms—to finance its defense procurement programs (involving companies with German interests) totaling 500 billion and another 500 billion (500 billion) for its infrastructure!
In practice, a fundamental overhaul of the EU’s rules and treaties is underway, one that will render it unrecognizable. New interest groups and new power dynamics are already taking shape; however, whatever direction these developments take, the outcome will not be good for the people or for Europe’s economy.
