Traditionally neutral nations prepare to join the again-relevant NATO military alliance, governments boost defense spending, and tensions soar between generally liberal-democratic countries on the one hand, and authoritarian regimes on the other. It's like waking from a pleasant decades-long dream of relative peace and growing prosperity to a world that's again on the brink of conflict. Whether or not hostilities spread, a new focus on war means greater risk and hard choices.
The immediate culprit is, of course, Russia and its regime led by Vladimir Putin. Russia invaded Ukraine in an old-fashioned land-grab and sees threats in efforts to support its victims.
