European Defence: Key Takeaways from the EU Leaders' Retreat
Introduction: The Strategic Imperative for European Defence On February 3, 2025, European Union leaders convened in Brussels for an unprecedented meeting exclusively focused on defence. Given the evolving security landscape, including Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, hybrid threats in the Baltic region, and shifting transatlantic relations, this "informal retreat" aimed to develop a strategic roadmap for strengthening European defence. Unlike formal summits, this retreat did not produce official conclusions but provided political direction for the upcoming White Paper on Defence, scheduled for release in March 2025. The key themes of discussion were: Enhancing European defence capabilities Finding sustainable financing solutions for security investments Strengthening partnerships, particularly with NATO, the US, and the UK This publication examines the most critical takeaways from this high-level discussion and their implications for European security, with a particular focus...