A European ecumenical peace group is warning of an arms race in Europe as the United States redraws alliances.

In a March 6 statement, Church and Peace, a network that includes several Anabaptist organizations, said “massive armament” would be irresponsible and “to declare a ‘pre-war situation’ . . . might be a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

“Instead of plunging into an unlimited arms race with unforeseeable consequences for the social and democratic cohesion of our societies . . . Europe should promote civil society initiatives against the authoritarian and right-wing extremist tendencies being mobilized by Russia and the United States,” the statement said.

Concern about an “imminent distancing of the United States from its European allies” preoccupied the Church and Peace board at a recent meeting hosted by the ecumenical Bammental Community, founded almost 50 years ago by Mennonites near Heidelberg, Germany.

German politicians voted March 18 and 21 to significantly increase defense spending after new chancellor Friedrich Merz told parliament the country had “felt a false sense of security” for the past decade.