There is a big difference between ridding oneself of complacency and having to live in a constant climate of war.

I'm all for getting out of NATO and boosting the European self-defence industry to reach the point of self-reliance.

This has always been the policy of former French PM General De Gaulle. It's why France is the only EU country that has its own nukes, doesn't fully have to rely on oil, challengde the dollar hegemony and stayed out of NATO. (and why the US even tried to have him killed)

But his was never a policy of fear-mongering but one of powerful independence. To retain the freedom to choose what was best for his French citizens and to live in peace not war.

Europe should follow his example. Besides being strong he also believed in a pan-European collaboration that included Russia:

It's high time to go back to the future.