MUNICH: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that Europe must remain prepared to defend itself citing rising geopolitical tensions and external pressures on democratic systems. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference she warned of attempts by outside forces to weaken the European Union from within and emphasized the need for greater European independence.
Von der Leyen said autonomy should extend across defence, energy trade raw materials and digital technology. Rejecting concerns about transatlantic ties she stated that an independent Europe is a strong Europe that would ultimately strengthen NATO. She highlighted that Europe’s military spending in 2025 has risen significantly compared to prewar levels driven largely by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
She urged the EU to reinforce collective defence commitments under Article 42.7 and called for faster decision-making on security matters. Von der Leyen also underscored lessons from Ukraine’s battlefield, noting the growing importance of industrial capacity innovation and drone warfare.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed similar themes calling for reduced dependencies and a stronger European role within NATO. He reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to collective defence and announced the deployment of the UK carrier strike group to the North Atlantic this year, emphasizing closer defence and technology cooperation with European partners.
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