May 12, 2026
Last Updated: May 12, 2026
AA/Istanbul/Ilayda Cakirtekin
The European Union’s foreign minister, Kaja Kallas, announced on Tuesday an agreement among member states to strengthen the European Defense Agency (EDA) in a context marked by tensions in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine.
Following a meeting of defense ministers in Brussels, Kallas stated that the Twenty-Seven had decided to provide the agency with new structures dedicated to “innovation and experimentation,” while continuing efforts to develop joint military equipment procurement.
According to the EU official, innovation in the defense sector should now become “a political priority.”
Referring to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, she noted that the region was in “a gray area between war and peace,” while urging to avoid further escalation.
“We support all diplomatic initiatives leading to a resolution,” she declared, emphasizing that a closure of the strait – “the world’s most strategic maritime route” – would be “unthinkable.”
Kallas also highlighted the “vital role” European naval operations could play in securing maritime routes and restoring commercial and energy flows. She suggested that Operation Aspides, deployed by the EU in the Red Sea against Houthi attacks, could see its mandate expanded to the Strait of Hormuz.
The EU official also warned against Moscow’s ambitions, stating that “Russia is preparing for a long-term confrontation with the West.”
“Whether Vladimir Putin will dare to test European defenses depends entirely on us,” she continued, arguing that “deterrence works when it is credible” and that “showing weakness only encourages aggression.”
Considering that the European defense industry had not yet reached the necessary pace, Kallas urged member states to increase their funding and accelerate arms production to more quickly address European capacity gaps.
