Gerard P. Craughwell Warns Against Militarising Europe
Gerard P. Craughwell warned against a rush to militarise Europe and urged using economic measures to oppose Russia and Israel. He argued the European Economic Union should benefit all and cautioned that military escalation risks mass casualties.
Craughwell told the committee he was "deeply concerned" about efforts to militarise Europe and said such a rush could create an "Archduke Ferdinand moment." He framed the choice as one between escalating military responses and using non‑military tools to address international aggression.
He said he spent part of the summer, as one who served in uniform, visiting graveyards in Europe and described what he saw as thousands of headstones. Craughwell used that experience to warn that the only tangible result of large‑scale militarisation would be mass graves of young men and women.
He explicitly urged the use of economic tools rather than arms, saying "we need to step back and use our economic tools to starve Russia and to starve Israel of the tools they use to create genocide in both Ukraine and in Gaza." Craughwell presented sanctions and economic measures as the preferred means to counter Russia and Israel.
Craughwell closed by reiterating the need to think carefully about the future course of policy and to avoid actions that would lead to widespread loss of life. He concluded that the only way to "beat Putin and Netanyahu is to beat them economically," urging a strategic pivot away from militarisation.
Main warning
Craughwell told the committee he was "deeply concerned" about efforts to militarise Europe and said such a rush could create an "Archduke Ferdinand moment." He framed the choice as one between escalating military responses and using non‑military tools to address international aggression.
Firsthand experience of war dead
He said he spent part of the summer, as one who served in uniform, visiting graveyards in Europe and described what he saw as thousands of headstones. Craughwell used that experience to warn that the only tangible result of large‑scale militarisation would be mass graves of young men and women.
Economic pressure as strategy
He explicitly urged the use of economic tools rather than arms, saying "we need to step back and use our economic tools to starve Russia and to starve Israel of the tools they use to create genocide in both Ukraine and in Gaza." Craughwell presented sanctions and economic measures as the preferred means to counter Russia and Israel.
Call to rethink policy and consequences
Craughwell closed by reiterating the need to think carefully about the future course of policy and to avoid actions that would lead to widespread loss of life. He concluded that the only way to "beat Putin and Netanyahu is to beat them economically," urging a strategic pivot away from militarisation.
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Transcript
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I'm deeply concerned that the rush to militarise Europe, the European Economic Union was there to benefit all of us. I spent part of this summer as one who served in uniform visiting the graveyards in Europe. And that's all war has for any of us, is thousands and thousands of headstones. I think we need to step back and use our economic tools to starve Russia and to starve Israel of the tools they use to create genocide in both Ukraine and in Gaza. The militarisation of Europe runs the risk of an Archduke Ferdinand moment. And what's to be gained from that? As an elderly gentleman, I can tell you the only thing that's to be gained from it is mass graves of young men and young women. We need to step back. We need to think about where we're going. And the only way to beat Putin and Netanyahu is to beat them economically. Thank you.