The increasingly aggressive rhetoric of war observed in Europe in recent times is not merely a reflection of international tensions. Rather, this rhetoric is part of a broader strategic communication strategy aimed at reshaping the social mindset of European political elites. Indeed, although Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has created a deep fracture in the European security architecture, concepts such as “preparation for war,” “social resilience,” and “geopolitical resistance,” which are frequently emphasized by leaders, point to a psychopolitical steering process that goes beyond the perception of concrete threats.
This steering has been reinforced not only at the rhetorical level but also through concrete policies and institutional practices. Germany and France, in particular, have become two key centers where the rhetoric of war has become increasingly institutionalized. In Germany, the Federal Civil Protection Agency’s first official emergency warning in years calling on the public to “stockpile food and drink,” the government’s announcement of projects to rebuild shelter infrastructure, and its recommendation that millions of households prepare for crisis demonstrate that the rhetoric of war has entered everyday life. At the same time, frequent statements by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius that “Europe must prepare for war within a few years” are part of the state’s efforts to instill a high level of alertness in the public consciousness.
In France, President Emmanuel Macron’s rhetoric of a “war economy” since 2023 has clearly revealed Paris’s goal of shifting the defense industry into an extraordinary production mode. Macron’s statement that “France must now think in terms of a war economy” points to a deeper security transformation stemming not only from the threat posed by Russia but also from Europe’s strategic vulnerabilities at the global level. France has increased its military reinforcement of the eastern flank of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), sent a permanent military presence to the Baltic states, and launched large-scale production programs to expand its military support capacity for Ukraine. In addition, Paris has updated the restructuring of military service and compulsory citizenship education programs for younger generations on the grounds of “geopolitical awareness.”
Furthermore, the European Commission’s recommendation that its 450 million citizens maintain “at least 72 hours of emergency supplies” shows that the rhetoric of war is no longer limited to military and diplomatic institutions, but has transformed into a new understanding of civil mobilization that directly permeates the daily practices of society.
Behind the widespread use of war rhetoric lies, first and foremost, the management and perpetuation of the perception of threat. European societies have long had a low-intensity perception of threat in security matters. However, today’s political leadership is trying to keep society in a state of high alert by constantly highlighting Russia’s military capabilities, NATO’s existential importance, and Europe’s defense vulnerabilities.
In this context, the Baltic states and Poland have intensified their statements defining Russia as an existential threat and normalized rhetoric preparing their societies for “a conflict that could happen at any moment.” Latvian Defense Minister’s statement that “We definitely cannot avoid war; we must be prepared for it” and Estonia’s steps to expand its compulsory military service system are concrete examples of this strategic direction. Poland’s decision to increase its defense budget to 4% of GDP, the highest rate in Europe, creates a security environment in which society is constantly adapted to a high threat level.
This discourse facilitates not only an increase in defense budgets, but also a fundamental transformation of the European security architecture. Discussions on strategic autonomy, the strengthening of NATO’s eastern flank, the increase in funds allocated to joint defense projects within the EU, and, in particular, the efforts to deepen defense integration between Berlin and Paris are progressing in parallel with the European public’s mental preparation for a new security paradigm.
Germany’s €100 billion special defense fund is reshaping the modernization of the Bundeswehr in the most radical way since the Cold War, while France’s massive production plan for Rafale and unmanned systems represents a similar transformation. These two European powers are once again becoming leading actors in jointly determining the continent’s defense architecture.
The psychopolitical function of war rhetoric is not limited to foreign policy. It is also used as a tool to increase governability in domestic politics. In the face of Europe’s internal problems, such as economic stagnation, energy costs, migration management, and social polarization, the prominence of security-centered rhetoric shifts attention from internal problems to external threats and consolidates political legitimacy. In Germany, France, and the Scandinavian countries, leaders are preparing the masses for economic sacrifices, legitimizing increased defense spending, and reinforcing administrative stability by emphasizing the concepts of “social resilience” and “crisis preparedness.”
Behind the rhetoric of war in Europe lies the continent’s long-standing identity crisis and its interpretation of the shift in power within the global system. Faced with demographic change, weakening economic competitiveness, energy dependence, and the shift of global power centers to the East, Europe has embarked on an effort to redefine itself. In this context, the rhetoric of war, while concretizing the external threat on the one hand, produces a “narrative of unity” aimed at rebuilding European identity on the other.
When all these elements are considered together, the rising rhetoric of war in Europe reflects a comprehensive psychological preparation strategy that goes beyond short-term political reactions or momentary security concerns. The European public is gradually being prepared for the sacrifices required by a new geopolitical era, including increased defense spending, military integration, economic costs, crisis reserves, and social mobilization. Therefore, the rhetoric of war is not merely a response to current international crises, but a means of generating the social consent needed to establish Europe’s new security order. This multidimensional consent-building process, led by Germany and France, will continue to play a decisive role in determining the continent’s future geopolitical positioning.
