New threats of war and how Europe should respond
A review of Wer verteidigt Europa? Die neuen Kriegsgefahren und was wir tun müssen, um uns zu schützen (Who Defends Europe? New Threats of War and What We Must Do to Protect Ourselves) written by: Jana Puglierin. Publisher: Rowohlt.
April 20, 2026 -
Agnieszka Łada-Konefał
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Books and ReviewsIssue 3 2026Magazine
It is the summer of 2029. Following the Bundestag elections in March, in which the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) achieved its strongest result to date, the CDU/CSU–SPD alliance remains in power in Germany only on a provisional basis, as efforts to form a new governing coalition have so far failed. In the chancellery, the most senior officials responsible for national security sit alongside the head of government. Before them lies a map tracking the movements of Russian troops, which this time have been deployed in unusually large numbers to Belarus under the pretext of the annual ZAPAD manoeuvres. Military experts warn that the situation bears striking similarities to that of 2021, just before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This time, however, they openly raise the possibility of a Russian attack on NATO territory. Germany is faced with the necessity of taking concrete action. A decisive response is required.
This is the opening scenario of Jana Puglierin’s book Who Defends Europe? New Threats of War and What We Must Do to Protect Ourselves. While hypothetical, this vision does not come as a surprise in Poland. Nor does the notion that governments must prepare for dramatic decisions in the realm of security policy. Yet Puglierin writes primarily for a German audience – one that remains far less accustomed to contemplating the prospect of direct military confrontation or active involvement in armed conflict.
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