Michelle Haas — Security Analyst; PhD Researcher, NATO and European Defence Policy at UGent; Fellow at The Egmont Institute; Reservist in the Special Forces
We all feel the uncertainty hanging over Europe. Will the US maintain its security commitment? Is Europe truly prepared for the evolving Russian threat? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the alarmist headlines and political ping-pong.
I sat down with Michelle Haas — a PhD researcher at the University of Ghent focusing on NATO and European defense, a fellow at the Egmont Institute, and a reservist in the Special Forces. Michelle brings a rare combination of academic depth and operational experience to break down the most critical issues facing the continent.
In this conversation, we discuss the state of the transatlantic security relationship and what European nations — especially those in the West — can learn from the strategic clarity and “whole-of-society” approach of the Baltics and Nordics.
What We Cover
The real state of the US commitment to European security — and whether NATO can hold together under the strain of political divergence on both sides of the Atlantic.
Why the Baltic and Nordic states serve as a model for the rest of Europe: total defence, societal resilience, and a willingness to have an honest public conversation about the threat Russia poses.
The gap between Western Europe’s rhetoric on defence spending and the structural reforms needed to make that spending effective against a determined adversary.
How Russia’s hybrid warfare — election interference, energy coercion, sabotage, and disinformation — already operates well below the threshold of conventional conflict, and why Europe’s current response is insufficient.
What a genuine “whole-of-society” approach to defence actually looks like in practice — and what Western governments would have to change to adopt it.
Leave a Reply