Security and defence

Germany is rearming. How do its European partners feel about it? A new Böll EU Brief presents what is, to our knowledge, the first public survey of its kind, with more than 9,000 people in France, Poland, Italy, Greece, Lithuania and Czechia. Two thirds support German rearmament, but backing varies by country and does not always come with trust. The top concern is the rise of extremist forces in Germany. Asked who should lead the defence of Europe, the largest group wants the EU to share that role, with no single country in charge. Germany must rearm, but also reassure.

European security engagement in the Indo-Pacific has accelerated sharply, but remains deeply fragmented. A new dataset of 1,077 cooperation entries, covering EU institutions, all 27 Member States, the UK, Ukraine, and 49 Indo-Pacific partners, maps for the first time the full scope of Europe's presence in the region. The data reveals a de facto division of labour that Brussels has yet to organise into a coherent strategic offer. Jacob Mardell diagnoses the coordination deficit, and sets out how to fix it.

Global power shifts are changing international relations and the repercussions are felt around the globe. This web dossier by the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung explores these changes. The contributions discuss how non-major power actors respond, the prospects of (cross-)regional cooperation and a potential role for the European Union. Many of the articles build on discussions held by the “Expert Delegation on Global Power Shifts”, a week-long event that took place in Brussels in the early summer of 2025. It brought together academics and practitioners from the foundation’s global network, examining geopolitics, the new US administration, China and the role of the EU.

Europe’s defence map is being redrawn. Our new Böll EU Brief tracks over 160 defence partnerships signed since 2014 among EU countries, the UK and Ukraine – most of them after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Bilateralism boosts trust, interoperability and procurement speed, but also risks duplication and fragmentation. To turn this patchwork into strategy, the EU and NATO should map and integrate these deals into joint planning, strengthen the European Defence Agency’s role, and use bilaterals to offset declining US support.  

Subsea data cables are the digital lifelines of our modern world. Yet, external factors frequently expose vulnerabilities in the network and its supporting infrastructure. While around 150 cable faults occur globally each year, states suspect a growing number of cable faults to be linked to hybrid or malicious activity. Recognising that many states around the world face similar risks, the EU Action Plan on Cable Security proposes to establish “an advanced cable diplomacy”. But cable diplomacy is not a one-size-fits-all strategy. Technological sensitivities, dual-use aspects and geopolitical considerations demand a tailored approach. Where and how should the EU build effective cable diplomacy partnerships?

2024 is a crucial year for Transatlantic relations, with EU and US elections at both sides of the pond. This web dossier compilates articles, podcasts and resources from the Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung offices and partners on the future of EU-US relations.

Since the EU published its EU-China Strategic Outlook in 2019, half a dozen EU Member States have come out with relevant China-related strategies. A new study by Jacob Mardell highlights that with each newly published national strategy on China or the Indo-Pacific, the overall EU approach towards China is also evolving.

With the dramatic takeover of power by the Taliban following the abrupt end of NATO's 20-year mission, Afghanistan is drifting into an uncertain political future. Our dossier offers insights into current developments and debates in Afghanistan, the region and Europe.