Rethinking European Defence: The European Defence Mechanism Proposal

On 12 April 2025, the European Union (EU) finance ministers, joined by their counterparts from the UK, Norway, and Switzerland, expressed their support for a joint defence fund aimed at collectively purchasing and owning military equipment. The initiative would bring together EU and selected non-EU countries to streamline defence spending and enhance coordination (Strupczewski & Badohal, 2025). This proposal originates from a report by the Bruegel think tank, commissioned by the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU. Its premise is the urgent need for the EU to achieve strategic autonomy, reversing decades of economic dependencies and fragmented strategic planning. This is deemed essential to effectively respond to contemporary threats, chief among them, a potential attack from Russia (Bortoletto, 2025; Wolff et al., 2025), following the diminishing reliability of the United States as Europe's primary security guarantor.

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Strategic Autonomy in Action: Europe’s Reassurance Force

On 10 April 2025, NATO hosted the last of a series of meetings of the so-called ‘coalition of the willing’ (Gray & Van Overstraeten, 2025). The initiative, spearheaded by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and supported by French President Emmanuel Macron, was first introduced at the London Summit on Ukraine in March (Davies, 2025). Bringing together defence ministers from 30 nations, including Canada and Australia but excluding the United States (US), the coalition aims to establish a ‘reassurance force’ for Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia (Melkozerova, 2025). The group seeks a credible and lasting European-made peace, reducing the chances of a future invasion from Russia even without US security guarantees promised to the war-torn country. In the words of the British Defence Secretary, the aim is to “put Ukraine in the strongest possible position, to protect its sovereignty and deter further Russian aggression” (Gray & Van Overstraeten, 2025). The urgency of the project has grown amid declining U.S. support under the Trump administration, which has pushed Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own security as Washington pivots its strategic focus toward the Pacific.

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Greece’s Military Modernisation Process: Is the EU Ready to Follow?

On 2 April 2025, during a session in Parliament, the Greek government announced the largest military spending plan in its history: €25 billion over the next twelve years (Stamouli, 2025). This decision comes after years of budget cuts following the 2009-2018 financial crisis. The investment, which amounts to around three-and-a-half percent of Greece’s GDP, largely exceeds NATO’s two percent defence spending requirement and reflects the broader European shift in increased spending. Following Donald Trump’s re-election, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has repeatedly stressed the importance of meeting the two percent spending threshold to maintain effective deterrence (Cook, 2024).

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Episode 7: The Role of Space in European Security and Defence

In this episode of StrategicALLY, hosts Doğa Sultan Önaçan and Manuel Dias are joined by Colonel Marcin Mazur from the Polish Space Agency (POLSA) to explore the evolving role of space in European security. We discuss space warfare, dual-use technologies, and the EU's path to strategic autonomy in space. Colonel Mazur shares valuable insights on the challenges Europe faces in protecting space assets and advancing space capabilities. Topics covered include the weaponization of orbital debris, the development of military space vehicle technology, and the EU's efforts in achieving autonomous space access. Tune in as we discuss how Europe is positioning itself to secure the future of its space domain. Podcast edited by Livia Perrulli.

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Hungary and European Defence: Political Rhetoric vs Military Reality

Hungary is often perceived as a political outlier within the European Union and NATO due to its government’s controversial stance on Russia and Ukraine. However, despite diplomatic tensions, Hungary has actively modernised its military and strengthened its defence industry in line with European security objectives. This paper examines Hungary’s post-Cold War military decline and subsequent revitalisation through the Zrínyi 2026 programme. It highlights Hungary’s threat perception, its role in NATO and EU missions, joint exercises, and interoperability efforts, demonstrating that while political disagreements persist, Hungary remains an integral part of European defence structures. The research sheds light on the contrast between Hungary’s political positioning and its military commitments.

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