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Europe Has Become a War Project — Can It Be Stopped? | Yanis Varoufakis & Jeffrey Sachs

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Overview

The stream argues that Europe is abandoning its longstanding identity as a “peace project” and is instead being reorganized around permanent militarization and war planning. It cites the Munich Security Conference—described as shallow, biased, and obsessed with “how to fight Russia”—as evidence of a broader shift in political legitimacy: European leaders increasingly justify policy through the language of “defense and deterrence,” even when that implies deeper confrontation with Russia.

What “changed” in Europe (core claims)

  • Acceptance of long-term confrontation with Russia: The war in Ukraine is portrayed as hardening Europe–Russia relations into an extended standoff rather than paving a political settlement.
  • NATO rearmament accelerating: The program claims internal NATO buildup is accelerating and becoming normalized in policy discourse.
  • US influence and unpredictability: European defense direction is suggested to be strongly shaped by the US, including pressure and/or bargaining dynamics (illustrated via the Greenland reference).

Why this shift is happening (attribution)

1) Not mainly Russia itself, but elite political choice

  • Jeffrey Sachs argues that the Munich meeting reflects a Europe-and-US “solipsistic” worldview that misunderstands global realities.
  • He claims current elites focus on how/whom to fight and on vilifying Putin, rather than offering serious strategic or moral analysis.
  • He further argues that the system is structurally set up to produce these outcomes, and that internal debate does not correct them.

2) Structural power politics behind European dependence

  • Yanis Varoufakis traces Europe’s lack of true sovereignty to a long-running alignment:
    • European integration (EU and NATO pathways) is described as being tethered to American security hegemony.
    • NATO expansion is argued to have served US interests—particularly by preventing stable German–Russian economic cooperation.
  • The discussion points to changes around 2008–2009 and subsequent European austerity as worsening stagnation, deindustrialization, and division within Europe.

3) Events and decisions that they say “locked in” militarization

Varoufakis describes a chain of developments, including:

  • A US/elite push for NATO expansion and alleged pressure on European governments.
  • The Bucharest NATO summit as a turning point: after initial pushback, Merkel is portrayed as having accepted a path toward NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia—framed as “the end of Europe.”
  • The overthrow of Yanukovych, framed as part of a broader regime-change logic aligned with US/NATO goals.

What it means for Europe (political/economic outlook)

  • Strategic autonomy dismissed as not feasible under current arrangements: Varoufakis argues that when leaders claim “strategic autonomy,” they are either lying or speaking in a way that still keeps Europe tied to confrontation with Russia.
  • “Forever war” logic: Leaders are said to want tensions to remain “simmering,” enabling ongoing military-industrial activity and defense-spending (“military Keynesianism,” in their framing).
  • Domestic legitimacy problem: Public support is described as weak, with low approval ratings. Militarization is portrayed as sustained by external influence, security institutions, elite networks, and institutional capture rather than popular consent.
  • National-alignment change as a symptom: Finland and Sweden are highlighted as examples of a shift away from neutrality toward NATO membership and a far-right political turn, alongside rising inequality—used as evidence that neutrality had previously underpinned prosperity and stability.

The proposed alternative

Sachs and Varoufakis argue that a less militarized trajectory would require decisive political choices—especially from Germany—including:

  • Re-engaging with Russia
  • Reopening paths to economic and diplomatic normalization
  • Building collective security on the European continent rather than escalating war logic

Presenters / contributors

  • Mehran Khalili (host; DM25)
  • Jeffrey Sachs
  • Yanis Varoufakis

Original video