The time has come for Europe to build its own capacity to act—autonomously when necessary, and with partners whenever possible. This is the logic behind our Strategic Compass for security and defense.

Analyse

The **Strategic Compass**, adopted by the EU in March 2022, explicitly outlines four pillars: **act, secure, invest, and partner**, emphasizing *strategic autonomy* where necessary (e.g., rapid deployment without reliance on non-EU actors) while stressing collaboration with NATO and like-minded partners. Von der Leyen’s phrasing—'*autonomously when necessary, with partners whenever possible*'—directly mirrors the Compass’s language (see **Council of the EU, 2022**). Independent analyses (e.g., **ECFR, CSIS**) confirm this dual approach as the document’s core logic.

Achtergrond

The **Strategic Compass** was developed in response to geopolitical shifts, including Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the U.S.’s pivot to Asia, and concerns over European dependence on external security guarantees. It marks the EU’s first unified defense strategy, aiming to bridge gaps in crisis response, cybersecurity, and military mobility while avoiding duplication of NATO’s role. The concept of *‘strategic autonomy’* has been debated since 2016 but gained urgency post-2020.

Samenvatting verdict

Ursula von der Leyen accurately described the EU’s **Strategic Compass** as a framework for enhancing Europe’s autonomous defense capabilities while maintaining cooperation with partners like NATO and the U.S.

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