EU aims at reinforcing global security with new defense strategy

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) – By expanding EU military capabilities, the bloc aims at complementing NATO and reinforcing global security, the EU foreign policy chief said on Tuesday.

Josep Borrell presented EU foreign affairs and defense ministers his draft defense strategy called “Strategic Compass” at the two-day ministerial meeting.

“This document is not just another policy document. It’s a guide for action with concrete measures and timelines,” Borrell told reporters after the conference.

He explained that the Strategic Compass was based on the keywords of “act, secure, invest, and partner.”

“The European Union needs to be able to act more robustly, rapidly, and decisively in response to crises, and to take decisions faster,” Borrell said, projecting a swiftly deployable EU force of 5,000 troops.

To secure the bloc, the EU has to strengthen its overall resilience and capacities, especially against hybrid threats and cyberattacks, he pointed out, adding that he would present soon a cyber defense policy and spatial strategy.

Borrell also stressed that the EU had to "increase the industrial capabilities to produce the tools and means in order to be at the forefront of the technology of the new warfare.”

Talking about the importance of defense partnership, Borrell said the strengthening of the EU defense policy had to complement NATO capabilities.

“To increase the military capabilities of the European Union is a way of increasing and reinforcing the global security and the transatlantic link,” he said.

Based on the feedback of national governments, Borrell will amend the draft on the Strategic Compass.

The final document is expected to be adopted in March.