The Strategic Compass will guide the direction of EU security and defence until 2030, and it does so by providing a single narrative for how, why and where the EU should act to protect its interests and values. While the document is comprehensive in its understanding of the threats facing Europe, there are two specific areas that will require more reflection and action in the coming months and years. Indeed, this Policy Brief looks at how the EU can make a more credible contribution to the defence of Europe by developing its mutual assistance clause and reinvigorating military mobility in the coming years. Russia’s war on Ukraine demands that EU member states, in cooperation with NATO, further develop the Union’s ability to protect Europe. 

The Strategic Compass was adopted shortly following Russia's invasion of Ukrainian territory; a clear signal reaffirming the need for an EU security doctrine. European defence is stepping out of a theoretical realm into an operational one, raising questions which our contributors attempt to answer. As the post-World War II liberal order is challenged, the repercussions are not limited to Europe but also reach the Indo-Pacific. We publish four policy briefs shedding light on issues of collective self-defence, EU solidarity and the evolving relationship between the EU and NATO.