La Collection du Plan

Rearming for Democracy: investing in defence, preserving our freedom

"Le Plan has always been a crossroads. It publishes its own analytical work but also seeks to share outside ideas, freely expressed by different authors. This is the spirit of Le Plan’s Collection, with this latest contribution from a major European figure, who offers his vision on a key issue: the importance of engaging European citizens in the rearmament of Europe."

Clément Beaune, High Commissioner for Strategy and Planning

Published on : 03/11/2025

Temps de lecture

2 minutes

Download the contribution by Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Prime Minister of Denmark and Secretary General of NATO

« Faced with the rise of authoritarian regimes, drawn out conflicts on Europe’s doorstep, hybrid and cyber threats, the European Union must learn again to speak the language of power. Investment in defence is no longer optional: it has become a condition for the survival of democratic regimes.

At the 2025 Hague Summit, NATO allies committed to investing 5% of their GDP in defence and security by 2035. In an already highly constrained budgetary context and a political climate marked by strong social tensions, military spending may appear excessive or even unjustified. While this spending is necessary, it inevitably competes with other public policies.

This investment therefore raises a key question: in order to guarantee social cohesion and democratic foundations, how can we ensure that defence efforts gain public support?

Defence strategy should not be seen as a financial burden, but should be collectively recognised as an investment in peace, autonomy and the preservation of freedoms. »

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Prime Minister of Denmark and Secretary General of NATO