EU President Backs European Security Council and Sabotage Playbook

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen used her annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg to endorse the establishment of a European Security Council. The proposed body would bring together leaders from the European Union, the United Kingdom, Norway, Ukraine and Canada to coordinate security policy across the continent.

In the same speech von der Leyen announced a new “playbook” intended to guide collective responses to hybrid incidents that fall below the threshold of conventional military attacks. The playbook would address activities such as sabotage, arson and unauthorised drone incursions, which officials have frequently linked to Russian operations.

Von der Leyen highlighted recent events to illustrate the growing risk, citing an attempted drone attack on Leipzig airport in Germany as an example of the type of threat the playbook aims to counter. She warned that Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and other destabilising actions were creating an increasingly hostile security environment in Europe.

The initiatives reflect a broader push among European officials to assume greater responsibility for continental security, amid concerns that the United States under President Donald Trump may be less reliable as a NATO partner. By involving non‑EU partners such as the UK, Norway, Ukraine and Canada, the council seeks to broaden cooperation beyond the Union’s borders.

Analysts have cautioned that the proposed council and playbook could overlap with existing NATO structures, potentially leading to duplication and confusion. Some observers suggest the measures may amount to a “talking shop” rather than a substantive new capability, pending further details on how the council will operate and integrate with NATO’s established mechanisms.