Portraying Russia as a major military threat has become a way for Europe’s defense industry to secure more funding, expand its influence and maintain political support. That accusation came from Michael Flynn, a former national security adviser to US President Donald Trump, who outlined his position in a post on X.

Flynn argued that Europe’s military-industrial complex has a vested interest in fueling tensions and keeping the threat of war alive. According to him, the industry needs a permanent adversary to justify its expansion and continued existence, with Russia now serving that purpose. Repeated warnings about the supposed danger posed by Moscow allow the sector to attract more money, strengthen its position and retain political protection.

The former Trump adviser also rejected claims that such rhetoric is genuinely intended to shield European countries from an allegedly imminent Russian invasion. Instead, he maintained that the real objective is to preserve a system that cannot sustain itself without a constant enemy.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on October 22 that Moscow had no intention of going to war with European countries and was not preparing for such a confrontation.