Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, on Wednesday in her annual speech in Strasbourg, suggested that the European Union should play a stronger role in security and countering hybrid threats, which could reignite long-standing tensions with NATO regarding European defense.
New proposals for European security
In her speech, von der Leyen announced the establishment of a crisis decision-making forum for EU leaders along with Canada, Norway, Ukraine, and the UK. She also referred to introducing an immediate consultation procedure for hybrid attacks based on NATO Article 4.
She emphasized that the European Union is "strengthening cooperation with NATO," but at the same time suggested that Brussels will seek to establish a larger role for itself. Von der Leyen said, "Our systems were built for a different world, and we need to examine whether they are still suitable or not."
Concerns within NATO and security challenges
These proposals have raised concerns within NATO, where the alliance views any EU efforts to address military threats with caution and has warned against "unnecessary duplication." One senior NATO diplomat stated, "Any initiative must be assessed on its own merits, but I feel that NATO has acted much more in the realm of collective security than what the EU has offered."
The EU proposals reflect a growing sentiment that Europe has been left behind in the face of increasing airspace violations, cyberattacks, and failed sabotage attempts. Von der Leyen said, "Cyberattacks and sabotage, fires, and drone incursions are increasing every day. Therefore, as the level of threat rises, Europe's preparedness must also increase."
While NATO emphasizes the necessity of maintaining its leadership in security, some NATO countries have also expressed concerns about these proposals, stating that they could worsen their security situation. In particular, countries close to Russia are worried that these plans could undermine NATO's credibility and necessitate its replacement.
