EU Facing Off Against an ‘Openly Hostile World’

The European Union must become independent to withstand an “openly hostile world,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said today in her State of the Union speech at the European Parliament. She discussed Russia’s war against Ukraine and, while not directly mentioning the U.S., said the conflict has “frayed relationships.”

Hostilities are growing around the world, and long-standing partnerships between nations are breaking. But the Bible reveals that the most hostile power of all will rise out of Europe.

“A territorial war ‌of aggression is ‌raging ​on our continent; others have erupted nearby,” von der Leyen said. “A ​fight for industrial capacities is shaping global ​competition. And ​a battle of ​narratives is seeking ‌to weaken confidence in ​Europe.”

These challenges demand European unity and independence. Von der Leyen:

• Called for an end to “many dangerous dependencies” such as reliance on Chinese critical raw materials
• Outlined how to build up reserves through global partnerships
• Called for the establishment of an alert mechanism, independent of nato, for security crises that fall below the threshold of an armed attack
• Welcomed Canada’s desire to become an associate member (article, below)

Iron and clay: Referencing British author Charles Dickens (“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”), she said:

The state of our union is the strongest it has ever been. The state of our union can also feel as precarious as it has ever been.

Daniel 2:40-41 prophesy that this will remain Europe’s principal problem. The current union will condense into a smaller, stronger union of 10 nations or groups of nations, yet:

And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters’ clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay.

The EU today is mostly known for division and fragility. However, within this mixture is an iron strength. As crises forge this union, its ironlike strength will soon shock the world. “The Image of Daniel 2” reveals why this prophecy applies to Europe today and how it will respond to what it regards as an “openly hostile world.”