By Jan 
When Zelensky walks into a meeting with EU leaders, you know it’s going to be serious. An 800-billion-euro defense plan is now on the table, but what does it really mean? Are we witnessing a historic shift in European security, or are we just seeing another layer of geopolitical theater unfold before our eyes?
Is This a Game-Changer or Just More of the Same?
The headlines suggest a moment of unity, a massive investment in Europe’s military future. But step back for a moment—what do we actually see?
To some, this is a necessary step toward securing Europe against external threats. To others, it’s a reactionary move, a financial commitment born more out of fear than strategy. Like all major decisions, it depends on the lens through which you view it.
A Crisis or a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?
If history has taught us anything, it’s that large-scale military spending can be both a deterrent and a signal that conflict is on the horizon.
Just as in the stock market, where investors can panic and create the very downturn they fear, military buildups can lead nations into the very conflicts they hope to avoid. The perception of danger often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Are We Seeing the Future or Just Seeing Things?
Perhaps the real question isn’t whether this plan is a necessary safeguard or an overreaction. Perhaps the question is whether we’re once again looking at the world through the filter of fear. Maybe—just maybe—this is another example of how what we see is shaped by what we expect to see.