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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called Saturday, Feb. 14, for the European Union (EU) to activate its mutual defense clause, declaring that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security as the continent approaches the fourth year of Russia's war against Ukraine.
"I believe the time has come to bring Europe's mutual defense clause to life," von der Leyen told the Munich Security Conference.
"No taboo can go unchallenged," she stated.
The mutual defense provision, enshrined in Article 42 of the EU's founding treaty, obligates member states to provide aid and assistance if another member faces armed aggression.
"Mutual defense is not optional for the EU. It is an obligation in our own treaty," von der Leyen said.
"It is our collective commitment to stand by each other in case of attack, or to put it simply, 'one for all and all for one.' That is what Europe means," she added.
Von der Leyen said European defense spending has increased approximately 80% since before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with investments through the SAFE program targeting air and missile defense, drones, and military mobility.
She announced that European defense investments are expected to surpass U.S. defense equipment spending by 2028.
The Commission chief said Europe had provided Ukraine with a €90 billion ($106.8 billion) credit mechanism, noting the debt would only be repaid if Russia pays war reparations.
Von der Leyen emphasized that Europe must build capacity in strategic areas, including space, intelligence, and long-range strike capabilities.
"We must grow a European backbone of strategic enablers in space, intelligence and deep strike capabilities," she noted.
The Commission president called for accelerating EU decision-making processes, suggesting qualified majority voting could replace unanimity requirements in certain cases.
She cited "Coalition of the Willing" initiatives as examples of new security cooperation and said the EU wants to strengthen relations with partners, including the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland and Canada.
Von der Leyen called for a new European Security Strategy that would reassess trade, finance, standards, data, critical infrastructure, technology platforms and information policies through a security lens.
She noted drones are responsible for approximately 80% of damage inflicted during the war in Ukraine, highlighting accelerated production and innovation in this area.
"The EU Defense Innovation Office established in Kyiv aims to combine European production capacity with Ukraine's rapid innovation approach," von der Leyen said.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed calls for European defense autonomy, telling the conference that Europe is "a sleeping giant" that must reduce dependencies on external powers.
"We must move forward together to create a more European NATO," Starmer said, adding that Europe should focus on "diversifying and decreasing some dependencies."
He declared Britain had moved beyond its Brexit-era divisions.
"There is no British security without Europe, and no European security without Britain. That is the lesson of history, and it is today's reality too," Starmer said.
The prime minister announced the U.K. will deploy its carrier strike group to the North Atlantic and High North this year as a demonstration of commitment to Euro-Atlantic security.
"If necessary, we must be ready to fight, to do whatever it takes to protect our people, our values, and our way of life," Starmer said.
He said Britain wants to combine its leadership in defense technology and artificial intelligence with Europe to build a shared industrial base that can accelerate defense production.
Starmer said the UK is working through the E3 format with Germany and France, as well as with EU partners including Italy and Poland, and with Norway, Canada and Türkiye.
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