EU commissioner proposes new European Security Council for defense

European Commissioner for Defense and Space, Andrius Kubilius, has advocated for the urgent establishment of a dedicated European Security Council to enhance the bloc's decision-making speed and cohesion on critical security matters. Speaking at a conference in Sweden, Kubilius argued that such a body is necessary to address Europe's most pressing challenges, beginning with the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Structure and Proposed Membership

The proposed council would consist of 10 to 12 members, including both permanent and rotating seats, and would incorporate the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council. Kubilius suggested that the United Kingdom should also be included in discussions on broader European security issues, aiming to move beyond lengthy debates to the swift preparation of key decisions.

Rationale Based on Strategic Shifts

The commissioner framed the initiative as a response to two major strategic shifts: the persistent threat from Russia and the United States' strategic pivot toward the Indo-Pacific region. He highlighted that Russia's military spending, measured by purchasing power parity, now reaches approximately 85% of the combined defense budgets of all EU member states, with no indication that President Vladimir Putin seeks peace.

European Defense Readiness and Türkiye's Position

Kubilius noted that Washington has explicitly called for Europe to assume greater responsibility for its conventional defense, prompting the EU's "Defense Readiness 2030" agenda. He stressed that Europe must be prepared to defend itself within NATO, even with a potentially reduced future US military presence on the continent. This push for EU-level defense integration occurs independently of NATO and highlights a complex security architecture in which Türkiye, a key NATO ally with its own robust defense industry and strategic priorities, carefully balances its commitments.