On March 18, 2025, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen delivered an important speech at the Royal Danish Military Academy in Copenhagen, emphasizing the urgent need for Europe to bolster its defense capabilities to establish credible deterrence by 2030. The address, attended by Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, underscored the shifting global security landscape and the imperative for Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own defense.
President von der Leyen highlighted the resurgence of power competition and the erosion of the post-Cold War security architecture. She pointed to Russia’s significant military investments, noting that “40% of the federal budget is spent on defense. 9% of its GDP. This investment fuels its war of aggression in Ukraine while preparing it for future confrontation with European democracies.” Concurrently, she observed that traditional allies, notably the United States, are increasingly focusing on the Indo-Pacific region, necessitating a more autonomous European defense posture.
To address these challenges, von der Leyen introduced the “Readiness 2030” initiative, aiming for a robust European defense posture within the next five years. She articulated four key priorities:
- Increased Defense Spending: Advocating for a substantial rise in defense budgets across member states, von der Leyen proposed activating the National Escape Clause to provide countries with greater fiscal flexibility. This measure could potentially mobilize up to €650 billion over the next four years.
- Addressing Capability Gaps: Emphasizing the need for pan-European collaboration, she called for investments in critical areas such as air and missile defense systems, artillery, drones, cyber capabilities, and military mobility infrastructure.
- Support for Ukraine: Termed the “steel porcupine” strategy, this priority focuses on strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities to deter potential aggressors. Von der Leyen announced the establishment of a joint task force with Ukraine to coordinate military support and facilitate the integration of Ukraine’s defense industry with the European market.
- Strengthening the European Defense Industrial Base: Addressing structural weaknesses, she proposed initiatives to encourage joint procurement and support defense industries, including the creation of a European military sales mechanism and the simplification of regulations through a Defense Omnibus.
In her concluding remarks, von der Leyen asserted, “Freedom is not a process. It is a constant struggle. It is every generation’s duty.” She reiterated Europe’s commitment to working closely with NATO, the United States, and other global partners to ensure collective security.
This speech sets the stage for the forthcoming White Paper on Defense, which the European Commission is scheduled to present, outlining detailed strategies to realize these ambitious objectives.
For further details, refer to the full speech by President von der Leyen on the European Commission’s website.
