Nairobi, Jan. 24 -- Europe is preparing for war: not as an incursion, and not as some rumbling stand-off, but as World War 3.

In fact, humanity has enough to contend with, as climate change accelerates and artificial intelligence threatens to outstrip humankind. But as the Russians have moved into war mode and aggression, European attitudes towards defence and sight of the risks have evolved.

The mood for a long time after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 was one of shock - disbelief, even confusion.

For the most part, too, Europeans were wide-eyed as Russia held national stadium events with rallying songs celebrating marching into Berlin. Even the months on end of Russian media commentators on Kremlin scripts threatening nuclea...