Fighting talk Is Europe right to be ready for a wider war?

A wave of anxiety has gripped European defence ministers and armed A forces as politicians and military leaders believe Nato-sceptic Donald Trump could be elected as the next president of the US and that Russia may not be forced out or defeated in Ukraine. This febrile mood has prompted growing warnings that Europe could find itself involved in a war in Russia, even though at present Russia is embroiled in Ukraine.

- Dan Sabbagh

At the same time, tensions in the Middle East have continued to rise. Israel's assault on Gaza continues; hostilities with Iran-aligned Hezbollah in Lebanon increase; and the US and the UK launched bombing raids on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen to halt raids on shipping in the Red Sea.

What are politicians and generals saying?

Adm Rob Bauer, the chair of Nato's military committee, said last month that it was "not a given that we are in peace" and that was "why we are preparing for a conflict with Russia and the terror groups if it comes to it" before the start of what the military alliance said was its largest exercise in decades, involving 90,000 troops.

Grant Shapps, the British defence secretary, used stronger language, arguing the cold war peace dividend was over and that the UK and its allies were "moving from a postwar to a prewar world" with idealism replaced by "hard-headed realism". It was time, he argued, for re-armament to protect Europe from "Putin's fury".