As we write these lines in April 2025, the European Union is entering a pivotal phase of strategic reorientation. Two months from now—when this editorial is published—it is possible that some of the uncertainty we currently face will have been resolved. Perhaps the long-awaited grants for civil society will have been released, easing the pressure on NGOs across Europe. But in this present moment, as defence spending accelerates and new frameworks like ReArm Europe take shape, we must reflect on the implications of sidelining public health and civil society in the name of security.