EU forced by Russia to take a “great leap” in its defense plans

The new security and defense strategy of the European Union (EU)which community leaders hope to validate at their summit on March 24 and 25, has been forced to take a “great leap” as a result of the invasion russian from Ukraine and incorporate more assertiveness in the face of threats that have gone from possible to real in recent weeks.

“The most hostile security environment requires that we take a great leap and increase our capacity and willingness to act, that we strengthen our resilience and that we guarantee solidarity and mutual assistance”, indicates the last draft that the Twenty-seven of the call are fine-tuning “ Strategic Compass”, the plans for the future of EU security.

Prepared by the high community representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, the document, to which Efe had access and which is now in its third revision, begins by warning that “the return of the war in Europe, as well as the great geopolitical changes, they are testing our ability to promote our vision and defend our interests.”

The European Union, says the text, is “more united than ever” and “committed to defending the European security order”: “By supporting Ukraine in the face of Russian military aggression, we are showing unprecedented determination to restore peace in Europe, together with our allies and partners”, he assures, and considers that its strategic association with NATO and the collective defense it provides to allies “is more important than ever for our Euro-Atlantic security”.

Borrell officially presented the “Strategic Compass” to the Member States last November and, since then, they have been working on a joint version that may have the political agreement of the Heads of State and Government this month.

The text had the strong support of the countries from the beginning, according to Borrell himself, and has been adding contributions that have increased with Russia’s aggression.

The strategy insists in any case that the EU and its member states “must invest more in their security and defense in order to be a stronger political and security actor”.

European Fund in Support of Peace

The latest version of the “Strategic Compass” gives more prominence to the European Fund in Support of Peace (FEAP), an instrument that is outside the EU budget but is nourished by contributions from the Member States and through which the EU has decided to invest 500 million in lethal and non-lethal material so that the Ukrainians defend themselves against the Russian invaders.

“The EU can rapidly provide significant assistance to partners, for example by providing military equipment that often complements the formation of Common Security and Defense Policy missions” and that can “increase the defense capabilities of partners at times of crisis”, the text now adds, which makes explicit reference to the support granted to the Ukrainian armed forces to “defend its territory and its population from unprovoked and unjustified aggression”.

Rapid deployment of 5,000 military

Another section that has been further developed is the creation of a rapid deployment capacity of up to 5,000 soldiers to respond to imminent threats or react quickly to a crisis situation outside the Union “in all phases of the conflict cycle”, It is expected to be fully operational by 2025.

Building on existing EU battalions, never used by Member States, a modular force will be developed that will include land, air and sea components to “be used in different phases of an operation in a non-permissive environment, as the initial entry, reinforcement, or as a reserve force to secure an exit.

The Twenty-seven undertake in this section to “increase the preparation and readiness” of their armed forces and to provide “strategic transport, force protection, medical means, cyber defense, satellite communication and intelligence capabilities, surveillance and reconnaissance”, in addition to guaranteeing interoperability “also in accordance with NATO standards”.

military mobility

To guarantee a successful deployment, the EU emphasizes the need to improve the mobility of military components, something on which it has been working and also collaborating with the Atlantic Alliance.

The document proposes, by the end of 2022, new investment commitments and agreeing on an ambitious revised action plan that will include new actions in areas such as digitization, increasing the cyber-resistance of transport infrastructure and its support systems, as well as the use of artificial intelligence and air and sea transport “to improve military mobility within and outside the EU”.