EU chief proposes new hybrid response protocol and deeper defence ties with non-members
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for a new security protocol to address hybrid threats that fall short of armed aggression, including cyberattacks, subsea cable sabotage, and critical infrastructure disruption. She also advocated for expanded defence cooperation with non-EU states. The proposal comes as European governments seek legal and operational frameworks to respond to grey-zone activity without invoking Article 5 or equivalent mutual defence clauses.
Why it matters: Brussels is finally trying to define what counts as an act of war when someone cuts a cable instead of firing a missile — the legal gap has been obvious since Nord Stream, but this is the first serious attempt to fill it.