Rising EU Concerns: Russia May Target Member States

In response to heightened fears of a Russian assault on an EU state, former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö outlined the urgent need for Europe to bolster its civil and military defense capabilities. "Russia has the capacity to expand its aggression beyond Ukraine into other parts of Europe, and we must prepare for that risk by evaluating all potential threats," he stated, responding to questions from Bulgarian media outlet "Club Z". The comments accompanied the presentation of a European defense report commissioned by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who was also present.

The report notes an increasing threat of armed attacks against EU member states, though Niinistö refrained from specifying particular countries. It stresses the need for preparedness across several fronts, citing climate change, escalating hybrid warfare tactics, and the mounting risk of cyber and sabotage attacks as key concerns.

During her remarks, von der Leyen highlighted Russia's projected defense spending for the year, expected to exceed that of all EU countries combined. She underscored the EU's vulnerability to cross-sectoral crises and emphasized the importance of increased European defense and production of dual-use goods.

The document calls for further integration between civil and military sectors within the EU and prioritizes creating dual-purpose infrastructure and supply chains for defense. It also suggests expanding Europe's capacity to support Ukraine long-term, advocating for a significant increase in military production to offset potential reductions in US support, especially in light of the upcoming American elections.

The report further emphasizes the importance of counteracting hybrid attacks through strengthened...