The 62nd Munich Security Conference (MSC) showed that the liberal international order is being actively dismantled. The question is no longer whether the order is eroding, but whether Europe is prepared to act in a world defined by power, interests and measurable capabilities. From a Baltic perspective, this shift is long overdue.
Munich made explicit what many Europeans still prefer to phrase politely. We have entered an era in which foreign policy is reformulated according to the logic of national interests. That logic has always existed, but we have forgotten how to speak and act within it.
Yes, Europe has been preparing for it. For years, in fact. But the question now is when it is going to be implemented instead of preparing. Action follows only after a clear formulation of national interest.
‘It’s the defence industry, stupid’
This shift does not mean forgetting NATO or the European Union. It means reformulating our deliverables within those formats. Multilateral formats and EU goodwill may still work internally, but globally Europe wants to be a geopolitical actor. That requires clearer leadership and a mandate that can be recognised beyond Brussels meeting rooms. Which means that only actual production can back up the talk about our common potential.
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