Europe in danger, but not alone. Getting serious about our security responsibilities
European External Action Service (EEAS)
03.09.2025
Brussels
Keynote speech by Kaja Kallas at the EUISS annual conference 2025
Good afternoon,
It's really nice to be in such an incredible environment
And thank you to EUISS for organising this event.
As I stand here today, the ground is moving beneath our feet. I think we all feel it. We all feel it every day by opening our phones and looking at what has happened.
And the tremors are getting stronger.
But there are no natural origins to this disaster. We are experiencing deliberate attempts to change the international order.
A new global order is in the making.
It will be not shaped without Europe. It will be shaped by what Europe is willing to do:
- Whether we are willing to recognise the need for Europe to play a geopolitical role;
- Whether we are willing to build our geopolitical power to do this.
For those who still doubt whether Europe should play a role on the world stage, we have always done so when the need arose. The same is true today.
Russia has brought war back to the European continent. Putin wants to neutralise Ukraine and re-establish its pre-1991 Soviet sphere of influence. These plans are not a secret. They were written for the world to see across the chest of the Russian Foreign Minister when he landed in the United States. Russia's aggression has demanded a collective, common European response.
However, the urgency and practical need for Europe's geopolitical role is greater today for two reasons.
First, Russia is not acting alone. China provides Russia with 80% of their dual-use imports. As we know, during war there is no dual-use in war. They are all used for military purposes. This allows the killing to continue in Ukraine. China and Russia also speak of leading changes together not seen in a hundred years and of revisions to the global security order.
And two, there are growing alliances of countries that see the world in a fundamentally different way to Europe.
When President Xi talked of building a new type of international relations at the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization this week, leaders from over 20 countries were there.
Only a handful of those that attended can be considered democratic, most score poorly on human rights indexes and none are considered to be entirely 'free' by Freedom House's Index.
This is what we're up against. Whether we like it or not, Europe is engaged in a battle for freedom and democracy.
To participate as an equal player, Europe must build its geopolitical power.
Geopolitical power is based on military might and economic force.
There is no doubt that Europe has economic power. We are one of the world's largest economies and a leading global trading bloc. We have the second most used currency and second largest reserve currency in the world.
Our military might, on the other hand, has never been strong enough. We have not spent enough on military hardware.
What we have spent has been inefficient. And we have not developed the right capabilities. But we are changing.
Europe has embarked on the biggest military undertaking in recent history: 2 trillion euros in additional defence spending between now and 2031. We are developing our military capabilities. Europe's annual capacity to produce ammunition is six times what it was just two years ago. Now we must do the same for key capability gaps such as air defence and precision-guided missiles. And we are slowly removing barriers in the single market. This is work in progress. It takes time, but it is happening, and that's a start.
We are also building our military might in a European way, through partnerships with others. We have Security and Defence Partnerships with a growing number of countries across the globe: the UK, Canada, Norway, Moldova, Albania, North Macedonia, Japan and the Republic of Korea. We are exploring these with others too.
These are not just technical agreements but an example of the European Union's fundamental commitment to alliances to protect both sides.
With regards to our economic power, there are two ways to use it as a geopolitical tool - the positive, through trade, or negative through sanctions.
The EU and the US still drive much of the world economy. That is why we made the trade deal we did. No one would argue it's perfect but it gives stability for our own citizens and business.
At the same time we are the largest trading partner for 72 other countries across the world and counting. Today we adopted proposals for two new trade agreements with Mercosur and Mexico. The EU is open for business.
This is extremely important. Countries are looking around to diversify their trade relationships.
But it is not only on trade where we are building these relationships. They will always find the European Union, as credible and reliable as we have always been.
We are now building our strategic autonomy through alliances on critical raw materials too - materials for batteries, for aviation, for defence.
And Europe always comes with a positive offer. We do not want to deplete resources. We care for the prosperity and well-being of people and the environment.
When Europe strengthens its power, it is never at the expense of others.
But just building up our geopolitical power is not enough. We are only taken seriously when we are willing to use that power. And what it requires is our unity to use that power.
There are good examples of where we already are doing this - Ukraine is one.
Yes, it is getting harder to have a united position, even on blatant Russian aggression. Funding under the European Peace Facility could be used to buy weapons for Ukraine from the United States as well. But it is being blocked.
However, since the first day of Russia's full-scale invasion, we have always moved together, not least through 18 packages of sanctions and counting.
An example of where we are not using our geopolitical power because we are not united is Gaza.
The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is a fundamental test of Europe's resolve to fight internationally for our values. And we are struggling because 27 Member States have different positions due to their history.
Europe has been the most active actor on this in the world. Day in and day out, I have pushed for aid to reach those in desperate need and apply the political leverage we have. I opened diplomatic channels with Israel because we cannot get anywhere if we don't talk. The European Union is the largest humanitarian donor and a constant supporter of the Palestinian Authority and the two-state solution. We have helped more than any other international actor.
But it is not enough to change the situation on the ground. And there is the frustration. We have not been able to use our geopolitical power to change the course in Gaza because we do not have unity. Europe can only use the full force of its geopolitical power when we act together.
Being a geopolitical actor also means rescinding Europe's offer where our interests are not respected.
If we have doubts about a country's respect for our interests, we should be clear about the consequences. We need to develop tools we can use - carrots as well as sticks. Simply put, if a country considers support for a war in Europe, we deprive them of funding. If they act together with us in the global sphere, we have initiatives they benefit from.
For every relationship Europe has, we must be prepared to show both sides of the equation, the positive and the negative.
Dear friends,
A new global order is in the making. But how we respond is entirely up to us.
We have what it takes, that has never been in doubt, if we are united.
Now we must grow our geopolitical power and work on how we can be united, or change the rules so we can take decisions.
Otherwise we are just not taken seriously.
Thank you.
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