Talk of war, a big war, is rising in Europe. As the third anniversary of Russia’s renewed aggression against Ukraine approaches next February, NATO is bracing for the worst. Last week, the United Kingdom’s uniformed defense chief, Adm. Sir Tony Radakin, stated that his country must seriously prepare for war. He acknowledged that Britain must do more to get ready, without delay, since “we don’t have the culture of total defense.” 

This week, Dutch Adm. Rob Bauer, chairman of NATO’s military committee, amplified similar themes. He explained, “Businesses need to be prepared for a wartime scenario and adjust their production and distribution lines accordingly. Because while it may be the military who wins battles, it’s the economies that win wars.”