Security

April 1 2025 (09:45 WEST)
Updated in April 1 2025 (10:50 WEST)

The European Union has a population of approximately 448 million inhabitants, if we add the United Kingdom, it amounts to about 514. The US census totals 340 million and Russia recounts about 150. Europe is considered as the first world, socially, economically and technologically developed. It does not seem logical that the pillar of European security or defense is a country from another continent, with less population, although technologically more advanced (USA). Especially when the threat comes from a neighboring country (Russia), with less population and in decline.

Currently, security needs do not only involve having more conventional weapons, in addition to a numerous and well-trained army. Also new defense devices such as drones. It is essential to have access, as a deterrent, to nuclear weapons. The best option, if not almost the only one, is to create a European nuclear project in which our country participates.

New fronts have also appeared that until a few years ago were difficult to imagine. The cyber threat is already a reality. Media intoxication, half-truths or outright lies spread by cyber means on social networks or any other medium, is already a certainty. The intervention in the US elections, in Brexit or the support that is currently given to the extreme right, are proven. Technological means must be available to counteract them. It involves the creation of new "weapons", which are computational tools that nullify these threats. Here research and development play a major role.

Another facet is climate change, a phenomenon that has strong scientific evidence. The natural disasters it entails are already a reality. It does not seem unreasonable to increase security in this aspect, giving priority to prevention. The reinforcement of projects such as the Military Emergency Unit (UME), which has given such good results, seems a good guideline.

As Spanish citizens we have to consider that, in order to increase our level of security, which in Europe they see as unavoidable, political and social consensus is necessary. The second exists, since approximately 84% of Spaniards are in favor of this increase. The political one is more complicated. The right is aware of the need to increase spending on defense, but they also see an opportunity to weaken the government. The sense of state is not imposed. The more radical left must mature and abandon that pacifist and perhaps prudish position. Their reference, the Soviet Union, no longer exists, its political place is occupied by Russia, which, like the US, is today an imperialist power as the European nations were until the mid-twentieth century.

The order established at the end of World War II has been blown to pieces. Without being alarmist, it must be pointed out that we are facing an almost survival issue, in which we are gambling our future.

Peace is a value that we aspire to as a society, but the turn of events advises us to prepare for what may come.

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