Pozņaks: Europe must adapt to new war reality, Baltic states need a different approach

In an interview with TVNET, MEP Reinis Pozņaks (ECR) highlighted that Russia's war in Ukraine has reshaped security thinking, moving beyond traditional military matters. He stressed that national defense now encompasses drones, infrastructure protection, civilian preparedness, and societal involvement.

Drones as dominant weapon Pozņaks cited Ukrainian officials' data that over 80% of confirmed enemy target destructions involve drones. However, European defense budgets still allocate only a small share to drone development and procurement. He noted that the traditional approach—long-term contracts and large platforms—is outdated, as drone technology cycles last only a few weeks. Europe needs flexibility and rapid innovation, which small and medium enterprises can provide if they have long-term contracts and predictable demand.

Dependence on China and strategic autonomy Europe remains heavily dependent on China for critical raw materials and processing, Pozņaks said. He pointed to Taiwan, which became a semiconductor leader through a long-term state strategy. Europe must develop its own processing capacities and build partnerships with reliable countries like Canada to avoid single-supplier dependence.

Baltic states: reaction time in minutes The Baltic states lack Ukraine's advantage of large distances. When Russian drones head to Kyiv, there is time to react, but in the Baltics targets are reached in minutes. Thus Ukraine's model cannot be copied—it must be adapted to local conditions, with a focus on early warning and rapid response.

Societal involvement and civil defense One key lesson from Ukraine is societal engagement, Pozņaks emphasized. Many Baltic residents want to help but do not know how. He urged creating systems for volunteers and local communities. He also proposed listing schools as critical infrastructure, as they already serve that role in practice. Regarding shelters, he called for assessing threats: shelters must be where people are, not far away, citing Israel's example of integrating protection into buildings.

Preparedness reduces fear In conclusion, Pozņaks noted that security is built by the entire system—institutions, businesses, society. Preparedness does not eliminate risks but reduces uncertainty and fear. People with a plan and knowledge make society more resilient.