War on the Rocks Is Europe Stepping Up on Defense?
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Oct 2, 2025 
General Sir Richard Barrons, a retired British Army officer with expertise in defense strategy, joins Peter Michael Nielsen, Denmark's Deputy National Armaments Director, to dive into Europe's approach to defense. They discuss the shift in Europe-Russia dynamics and Denmark's aggressive procurement reforms during its EU presidency. Barrons highlights challenges in UK modernization, while Nielsen emphasizes Denmark's swift budget increases and agility in decision-making. They also explore crucial emerging technologies like AI and quantum advances shaping future defense.
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Long View Of Strategic Change
- Richard Barrons traces his defense concerns back to 2010 when Russia's behavior and waning U.S. enthusiasm signaled change.
- He links the digital age to how militaries must transform or risk strategic failure.
How He Joined The Defence Review
- Barrons describes how he was chosen to co-lead the Strategic Defence Review after long informal engagement with policymakers.
- He credits prior work with John Healy and his organization UDSS for building trust that led to the selection.
Intelligence-Driven Acceleration
- Denmark's intelligence judged a possible Russian attack within years, spurring accelerated defense funding.
- That assessment created an 'acceleration fund' and faster procurement decisions this spring and autumn.