The European Union’s annual military exercise, MILEX, concludes in Hungary on Thursday, April 10th.
This military exercise is intended to assess the efficiency of the EU’s response capabilities. MILEX began at the headquarters in Belgium as a desktop exercise working to strengthen their procedures on both the political and tactical levels. On March 25th, the procedures were put into practice with LIVEX, where EU troops spent 17 days in a simulated conflict zone. Specifically, MILEX 25 aims to strengthen the EU’s military and defense strategies. Members plan to reduce their reliance on outside organizations and work toward strategic autonomy. The EU seeks to bolster its global presence by promoting international peace and security.
The EU’s mission for autonomy is becoming increasingly more important as members are facing imminent threats. This includes Russian aggression, destabilization in the Middle East, and the rise of China. Moreover, members have been facing pressure from Donald Trump and his administration due to their significant reduction of foreign aid. The EU needs to reduce its reliance on the United States in order to remain secure in an increasingly chaotic international climate. Bolstering their defense capabilities will allow members to continue their efforts in emphasizing sovereignty and curbing Russian aggression against Ukraine. By doing so, the EU will be able to deter Vladimir Putin’s goal of reworking the post-Cold War international order. Putin’s revisionist attitude presents a grave security threat to the EU as it will deteriorate Western dominance throughout the world.