Dutch defence chief: Europe needs to be “fit to fight”

Europe needs to be "fit to fight" and for that, it must make long-term, structural investments in strengthening its armed forces, Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren wrote on X (former Twitter).

Commenting on the newly concluded agreement within the framework of EU military cooperation, she wrote that no single nation can tackle today’s security threats on its own, Europeans need to step up their game, build a credible European defence, and strengthen their position as a key pillar within NATO.

According to her, the European Union has always been a peace project.

"Wars have been fought close to home, such as in the Balkans, but never within the Union. For countries outside the EU, membership is both a reward and a promise of peace and stability," the minister wrote.

"To keep it that way, it is essential that we act now. Europe must re-learn deterrence. We must make long-term, structural investments in strengthening our armed forces. We need to be fit to fight," Ollongren concluded.