Keeping an Eye on the Geopolitical Ball | Security and defence in the State of the Union speech

This week on Keeping an Eye on the Geopolitical Ball, Jamie Shea, Senior Fellow at Friends of Europe, looks back on von der Leyen’s State of the Union speech that focused on the achievements of her Commission. However, according to Jamie, von der Leyen has omitted one vital topic, namely that of security and defence. Indeed, security and defence have been at the core of recent EU politics with many new defence initiatives such as the creation of the DG DEFIS and the European Peace Facility. Jamie Shea pleads for these to be addressed in the next State of the Union speech, in order to strengthen European defence cooperation, avoid duplications and secure peace on the continent.