NATO

 

Patrick Lane Senior digital editor

Security chiefs in western Europe are warning of the possibility of conflict with Russia—and that their countries are far from ready for a war. The gap in military preparedness with countries farther east is stark, and in civilian readiness starker still. Kriegstüchtig—a German word meaning “war-ready”—is one of the non-English terms that have featured in some of the big stories of 2025. Check out the full list, as well as our word of the year in The Economist’s mother tongue.

Norwegian soldiers on patrol

War readiness Europe’s generals are warning people to prepare for war But western European societies are in denial

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US allies need to ‘become porcupines’

(Foreign Policy) As U.S. allies and partners adapt to the revolution in U.S. foreign policy under Trump, one word best captures the grim strategic calculus they now confront: porcupine. Read More

No signs of Russian plan for attack on NATO, Estonia spy chief says

(Stars and Stripes) Russian provocations in Eastern Europe are on the decline, according to Estonia’s spy chief, who says President Vladimir Putin shows no signs of wanting to attack NATO in the coming year. Read More