EU Builds Stronger Defence Partnerships

The European Parliament adopted a resolution on 11 February 2026 to strengthen the EU’s strategic defence and security partnerships (SDPs) for the 2024‑2029 period. The resolution builds on the EU’s common security and defence policy, the Strategic Compass for Security and Defence, and recent agreements with partner countries.

Key points:

• Why SDPs matter – Russia’s war in Ukraine and other hybrid threats show that the EU must act more independently and work closely with like‑minded partners. SDPs should improve interoperability, innovation, and industrial cooperation while staying true to EU values and the UN Charter.

• Existing and new partners – The EU has signed SDPs with Moldova, Norway, Japan, South Korea, North Macedonia, Albania, the UK, Canada, and Ukraine. The resolution encourages further agreements with the US, Canada, Norway, the UK, and other Indo‑Pacific, Black Sea, and Balkan states.

• NATO cooperation – The EU and NATO are urged to deepen joint exercises, intelligence sharing, and joint planning, especially for military mobility, maritime security, cyber defence, and space. The EU wants a stronger defence pillar within NATO that can act autonomously while complementing the alliance.

• European Defence Fund and ReArm Europe – The resolution supports the European Defence Fund, the European Peace Facility, and the ReArm Europe plan, which aim to boost EU defence industry, secure critical raw materials, and reduce dependence on external suppliers.

• Multilateral work – The EU should strengthen its partnership with the UN, the African Union, the OSCE, ASEAN, the Gulf Cooperation Council, and the OAS, focusing on peace operations, counter‑terrorism, migration, and climate‑related security.

• Parliament’s role – The Parliament will monitor SDP implementation, support parliamentary diplomacy with partner countries, and promote public awareness of the EU’s security agenda.

Overall, the resolution calls for a coordinated, rules‑based approach that expands the EU’s strategic autonomy, deepens ties with NATO and other partners, and ensures that the EU can respond quickly and effectively to new security challenges.