Von der Leyen pitches European Security Council in response to Trump and Putin

Key Points:

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed creating a new European Security Council to include the EU and like-minded partners such as Ukraine, the U.K., Norway, and Canada, aiming to address escalating Russian attacks and security risks.
• The initiative is part of a broader security policy overhaul focusing on stronger responses to hybrid attacks attributed to Russia and enhancing Europe's defense capabilities in coordination with NATO.
• Von der Leyen also suggested an EU emergency security protocol modeled after NATO’s Article 4, enabling member states to coordinate responses to hybrid threats that fall below armed aggression but still endanger national security.
• Additionally, she announced plans for a European Instrument for strategic military capabilities, targeting areas like air-to-air refueling and missile defense to reduce dependency on U.S. technology while aligning with NATO.
• The proposal reflects growing concerns over Europe's ability to manage increasing airspace violations, cyberattacks, and sabotage amid tensions from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, alongside strained transatlantic relations under U.S. President Donald Trump.