Gerald Edward Connolly, a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives from Virginia’s 11th congressional district, and Head of Georgia’s Group of Friends says that Russia is posing a threat to peace in Europe and investing in defense is the means to preserve peace.

“A lot of countries stood down their defense investments and allowed the United States to play a more significant role while allowing their own military to decline, both in investment dollars and, frankly, in capability.

I don’t think that those voices gave much thought to the rise of Vladimir Putin and a resurgent, more aggressive Russia that resembles the Soviet Union of old more than anything else. We have seen physically that that represents a threat to peace and stability on the European continent—not just in Europe, but we can start with Europe.

And so there have been Russian incursions compromising the sovereign territory of Georgia, Moldova, and, of course, Ukraine, and continued threats to the sovereignty of the three Baltic republics and several other former Soviet satellite nations. And so, our job is not done. Preserving the peace means investing in defense to make sure that that deterrence is there for everyone to see, including our would-be adversary Russia.

It is vitally important that NATO rededicate itself to its mission and protect the autonomy and sovereignty of the states within its confines. I think that mission is more important than it has been in a long time,” Connolly said in an interview with New Atlanticist.

According to Connolly, NATO allies should send clear and unmistakable messages to Vladimir Putin’s Russia that the physical compromise of sovereign territory will not be tolerated.