On 19 and 20 March 2026, Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, and Kaja Kallas, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, attended the European Council in Brussels, where they called for greater strategic autonomy in the face of a fragmented world order. They championed the ‘Readiness 2030’ initiative to bolster European defence, backed by €650 billion in budgetary flexibility, whilst identifying Iran’s missile programme and the security of Ukraine as vital priorities. This vision calls for a more resolute Europe, capable of protecting its economic interests and security through its own means in the face of growing geopolitical threats.