The Age of European Humility Is Over
- john raymond
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
Power politics at this stage of the war must be read not through diplomatic euphemism but through the primal logic of the schoolyard. The strong are those who can project will, courage, and force, not merely those who own latent advantages.
NATO and the EU therefore must behave like the big kid who has finally decided to stop letting the smaller bully dictate the terms of the fight.
Argument
Russia’s war narrative thrives on posturing—presenting itself as a victim of “NATO bullying” while simultaneously relying on brute force against Ukraine. This is the oldest trick of the bully: cry foul when confronted, but prey relentlessly on the weaker. The correct answer is not retreat, not apology, but the calm and public assertion of strength. Just as in a schoolyard, the way to end harassment is not to hope the bully gets bored, but to demonstrate unmistakably that aggression will cost more than it gains.
For NATO, this means moving from defensive excuses into displays of will. It is not enough to be strong; one must be seen to be strong. This is why visible victories—supply chain interdictions, battlefield gains, expanded defense coordination—matter more than abstract economic ratios. Russia already knows Europe is larger and wealthier. What it doubts, and tests daily, is whether Europe has the courage to convert resources into force.
The paradox is that such displays are not escalation but stabilization. When a bully is forced to recognize superior strength, the incentive for continued provocation diminishes. To hide strength in this moment is to invite further abuse, whereas to show it off—disciplined, deliberate, even ostentatious—is to communicate finality: we will not be pushed around.
Implications
Moral clarity: There is nothing hypocritical about opposing bullying while practicing strength. The refusal to be cowed is itself the defense of justice.
Deterrence through theater: Signals matter as much as substance. A show of force, well-timed and well-disciplined, is itself a weapon.
Narrative shift: If NATO visibly asserts itself, the war’s story completely shifts from one of Russian endurance to one of Russian exhaustion, undermining Moscow’s last advantage—its psychological hold over Western hesitation.
In short: the time for quiet strength has passed. The moment calls for NATO and the EU to stot in the open, to show that they will not only resist the bully but humiliate him by proving they are faster, stronger, and more resilient than he ever imagined.
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