Political expertise must now translate into military capabilities Europe can deploy.
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
The European Union is creating a high-level group of political and military specialists to identify how Europe can close its most urgent defence gaps as Russia intensifies conventional and hybrid pressure. The initiative will include representatives from EU member states, Ukraine and the United Kingdom, extending cooperation beyond the institutional boundaries of the bloc.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the group during an informal meeting of defence ministers in Ireland. She said Europe is investing unprecedented amounts in security but acknowledged that higher spending has not produced capabilities quickly enough. The experts will be asked to propose practical methods for accelerating procurement, coordinating national investments and avoiding the duplication of weapons systems.
Ukraine’s participation will give the group access to direct operational experience from a battlefield transformed by drones, electronic warfare, artificial intelligence and rapid technological adaptation. Kyiv has repeatedly demonstrated that innovation cycles measured in weeks can outperform conventional procurement systems that require years. The United Kingdom’s inclusion also reflects its military importance to continental security despite its departure from the EU.
The group is expected to examine shortages in air and missile defence, ammunition, long-range weapons, military mobility, cyber protection and intelligence. Its creation comes as the United States reduces part of its military presence in Europe, increasing pressure on European governments to assume greater responsibility within NATO. Kallas nevertheless emphasized that the alliance remains the cornerstone of European collective defence.
The European External Action Service will formally launch the initiative at a defence conference, where the participants will be identified. The group will then prepare a report containing concrete recommendations for governments and EU institutions. It will not possess authority to purchase weapons, command forces or compel member states to adopt its proposals.
Its value will therefore depend on whether governments convert the recommendations into coordinated investment and production orders. Europe has already produced numerous strategies identifying similar deficiencies, while fragmented procurement and national political interests have repeatedly delayed implementation. The new group can clarify priorities, but only governments can transform analysis into credible deterrence.
Lo visible y lo oculto, en contexto. / The visible and the hidden, in context.