How to build European independence in defence? A topic which I’ve been talking about recently. I’ve put my personal understanding into this broader text & hope it’ll be helpful in further discussions on this most important strategic issue for Europe. andriuskubilius.lt/en/on-europe...

In a world of giants, we too must become giants. A gentle giant that promotes international law and cooperation. But a strong giant all the same. 🇪🇺 www.politico.eu/article/eu-l...

Delighted to meet Federal Minister Dorothee Bär 🇩🇪 at the #ESC2026 in Brussels. I stressed the importance of continued integration of developing European space capabilities. 🇩🇪 is a strong space faring nation in the global context & plays a pivotal role in European space systems.

#SAFE investments in defence brought historic opportunity for EU defence industry. But first SAFE is for the needs of customers, of our defence. Our customers are defence ministers and generals. #EUDefence 1/3 🧵⬇️

Italy is one of the major players on space issues. To achieve European competitiveness and independence in space we need joint efforts 🇪🇺 Always great to meet Minister @adolfo_urso and frankly discuss our progress on major issues.

Great to meet and discuss key questions with the next generation of space experts. Our era is shaped by #EUSpace 🇪🇺 If young people choose to link their studies and careers to space, they can become winners of the new space race 🚀 #YouthDialogue #ESC2026

Important announcement at #ESC2026 EU Member States already can use secure satellite communications for governmental services provided by the European #GOVSATCOM, while #IRIS² will be fully operational from 2029 🇪🇺 #EUSpace

🏆 Happy to award the 5 prizes for game-changing European innovations for #LaunchSolutions at #ESC2026 Europe has regained access to space 🚀— now we accelerate! Announcing a new €20M EU grant to drive innovation & leadership in space 🇪🇺 This is just the beginning!

We did a lot last year to ensure Europe accelerates its role in space. But much more is coming on the path to defence readiness with a powerful European Space Shield, European autonomy, strong industry & new technologies. Keynote at the 18th #EuropeanSpaceConference ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

We need our own independent European space capacities to deter & if need be counter Russian aggression. Without Space that is impossible, and no Member State alone can do this. My remarks on 🇪🇺ambitions in space, at the Bremen’s state representation ➡️🔗 ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

The 🇪🇺 EU co-legislators launching a 1st trilogue on #DefenceReadiness Omnibus. The EU needs to move fast on the simplification of regulations to help the European defence industry ramp up. We will support @europarl.europa.eu & #EUCouncil @cy2026eu.bsky.social to reach the agreement!

There is no break on #SAFE! 🚀 8 more national investment plans approved just now. ~€75B in #EUDefence funding, moving us closer to collective strength. ⏩ What’s next: Council decisions for fast disbursement. And we continue working on the remaing plans.

The EU 🇪🇺 aims to speek with a united voice. We have clear values, and we defend them. We have our long term strategy, and we implement it no matter what others say. We seek European Strength. #BBCNews

Meeting #ITU Secretary General Doreen Bogdan-Martin in #Davos. Radio frequencies interfering (RFI) is a serious challenge for 🇪🇺 economies. The EU is developing secure satelite communications like #IRIS² - to address RFI. We discussed how more attention to RFI shall be dedicated by ITU as well.

In #Davos happy to share my insights on the future of the European Space Economy. Europe has world-class space assets & capabilities on par with other space powers. The broader economy has some 8% dependence on space services. Europe has all credentials to lead the space race.

A talk about Ukraine in #Davos - 🇺🇦is defending freedom, European values & international law & order. 🇺🇦 is a cradle of defence innovations. Billions € from 🇪🇺 #SAFE #EDIP Ukraine loans instruments will start reaching Ukraine soon. We will work with Ukraine at full speed. @ec.europa.eu

At @cnbc.com studio in #Davos about European Independence, Greenland, our immediate priorities in ramping up defence and bigger European contribution to NATO strength. #WEF26 www.cnbc.com/video/2026/0...

Meeting w Defence minister Martin Pfister🇨🇭in #Davos #WEF The EU is set to become a defence industry powerhouse. Partners like Switzerland are welcome to continue with us on this path. 🇪🇺-🇨🇭agreements of 2025 will open new opportunities for cooperation in space & much more.

Powerful speech by @ec.europa.eu President Ursula von der Leyen today in #Davos: “We have done more on defence in the last year than in decades before.” 1/4 ⬇️

Our response to geopolitical security crisis - more 🇪🇺 unity. Unity starts with collective leadership to discuss most important defence issues. We need to discuss setting up European Security Council, first proposed by President Macron & Chancellor Merkel ⬇️ ec.europa.eu/commission/p...

Mediterranean region is crucial for European security.  We look forward to move ahead on defence and space files during the @cy2026eu.bsky.social Presidency. There is no time to wait. We need to achieve #DefenceReadiness now!  🇨🇾🤝🇪🇺

No time to wait! We are moving ahead with 🇪🇺defence funding for #DefenceReadiness After detailed analysis, today @ec.europa.eu approved 8 MSs #SAFE national plans for €38 bln of funding. Next steps: other 11 MSs plans, Council decisions, loan agreements & 15% funding release!

Wide range of questions from challenges we face to European defence readiness discussed at the Decoding Geopolitics Podcast with Dominik Presl ⬇️ 📹 m.youtube.com/watch?v=lPaT...

More money alone is not the answer to all our issues; we need to look more deeply at what the European pillar of NATO and a European Defence Union could look like. Exchange of views on European defence at the Belgian Federal Parliament ⬇️ 📹 media.lachambre.be/meeting/56-0...

I had a call with new 🇺🇦 Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov. I am sure Ukraine will win, 🇺🇦 army will be the strongest & most innovative on the continent! I am committed to help. Today @ec.europa.eu adopted €90 bln Ukraine Loan Support instrument to mostly fund Ukraine’s military needs!

In the face of today’s challenges, EU military cooperation is crucial. Pleased to receive the Chair of the EU Military Committee General Seán Clancy and his team to discuss 🇪🇺 #DefenceReadiness

Belgium is strong in defence, strong on Europe, and for many years my home away from home. So my wife Rasa and I were very honoured to meet Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde today. 🇧🇪🤝🇪🇺

A thorough conversation on the EU’s added value in achieving European defence readiness fast ⬇️ With Gaston Moonen for ECA Journal #EuropeanCourtOfAuditors www.eca.europa.eu/ECAPublicati...

Concept of total #DefenceReadiness means both military and civil #preparedness Great to hear about 🇸🇪 experience and cooperation with its neighbours in preparing the society for any crisis: from 🇸🇪Chief of Defence Gen Michael Claesson and DG of Defence and Resilience Agency Mikael Frisell.

Great to have Sweden 🇸🇪 among enthusiasts of European #DefenceReadiness 🇪🇺 With Defence Minister Pål Jonson: how to #ReArm our armies faster through #SAFE, #EDPCI’s & joint procurement, to ensure that our support to Ukraine 🇺🇦 leads to a sustainable peace.

No one argues: 🇸🇪 is serious about security and defence. With Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson about many short & long term security issues: EDPCIs, joint procurement in #defence, support for 🇺🇦, 🇪🇺 pillar of #NATO, 🇪🇺 space independence, true #EuropeanDefenceUnion, 🇪🇺Security Council & more.

Portugal has much to offer when it comes to strengthening European defence and space! 🇪🇺🤝🇵🇹 Video impressions from an intensive mission to Porto and Lisbon this week ⬇️

🇸🇪National Annual Conference #FolkochForsvar counts its 80 years. A great honour to meet His Majesty The King Carl XVI Gustaf (who attends the Conference since 1976) and HRH The Crown Princess Victoria and exchange views on security of 🇸🇪 and 🇪🇺

1/4 Why we need “intellectual Big Bang” in defence? Besides a “big bang” in defence money, which is coming, we need to start to look much more deeply into the problems of our Institutional Defence Readiness. We need an intellectual “big bang” to make much more radical shift.

The #FolkochForsvar national conference in Sälen is where the 🇸🇪 security and defence policy community meets every year. 🔴Follow my speech “Europe under pressure at 14.15 CET live ⬇️ 🔗https://www.youtube.com/live/D488GtBiADk?si=uysiBo4kT0QkfJyW

At 🇵🇹Air Command & NATO JALLC witnessed the dynamic role of lessons learned to improve & adapt and the critical role of space operations in modern warfare. 🇵🇹 has much to offer for European defence readiness with the Atlantic constellation & its space capabilities in Açores.

It is absolutely clear - Putin is not interested in peace. He will continue this war as long as he is convinced that Russia can prevail over Ukraine. Our joint aim is to make sure he is not.

Our future will be defined by ⤵️ ✔️Geopolitical revolution ✔️Defence technological revolution ✔️Space revolution What youth at @istecnico.bsky.social is doing is taking part in this revolution! Thank you, Mayor Carlos Moedas, IST’s Rogério Colaço, Manuel Heitor and students for great exchange!

Meeting with defence and space stakeholders was an important milestone of my visit to Portugal 🇵🇹 Great to deepen my understanding of achievements and important capacities built over the years such as the Atlantic Constellation.

Last year, we laid the groundwork for a financial Big Bang in defence. Now, we need an intellectual Big Bang for institutional & political defence readiness - and Parliament is the best venue for this kind of discussions! Pleased to exchange views with MPs at the Assembly of the Republic 🇵🇹

Good discussion with Minister of Science and Technology Fernando Alexandre 🇵🇹 Portugal has already achieved a lot thanks to the investments in R&D, crucial for space and for defence. The EU will continue supporting your efforts through RRF and other European programs 🇪🇺

While I am in Lisbon, lovely to meet José Manuel Barroso, frmr 🇪🇺 Commission President & 🇵🇹Prime Minister. Good to know that we share the vision of strengthening European unity. Europe faces big challenges. Now is the time to unite even stronger.

Innovation, research and technology development is crucial for European defence and space. Portuguese can be proud of their innovation driver #CEiiA Good to visit this engineering development center in Porto together with Minister of Science and Technology Fernando Alexandre.

Delighted to speak to the community of 🇵🇹 ambassadors at the Diplomatic Seminar, hosted by Minister Paulo Rangel. Challenges are historic and we need to act now. Our material defence readiness is important, but so are the European Defence Union & political defence readiness.

Good to meet Defence Minister Nuno Melo in Porto, as my mission in Portugal starts. 🇵🇹 is an important player in both European defence and space, with its competitive industry and innovation-driven approach. @ec.europa.eu will continue working very closely with 🇵🇹!

Young Europeans will make Europe more united! For them, a European Army is more attractive than national armies or even NATO. That is what today’s politicians need to have in mind! ⬇️ www.politico.eu/article/unit...

🇱🇹Lithuanian company, supported by @esa.int, builds a satellite ground station in Greenland for fast & secure satellite communication. Space is crucial for defence. Space revolution is coming & Europe is moving ahead with strengthening its capabilities & resilience. www.politico.eu/article/spac...

2025 proved that Europe cannot be complacent on security. Defence readiness is no longer optional. Security is our shared responsibility. We delivered this year ↓

Lithuania 🇱🇹 is a key player & contributor developing defence readiness on the Eastern Flank 🇪🇺 Always good to meet Minister Kęstutis Budrys, to reassure the support of @ec.europa.eu to 🇱🇹 in the light of Lukashenko's hybrid attacks & strategize on the next steps building Defence Union.

Hybrid attacks against Lithuania 🇱🇹- treat to🇪🇺security. Ways to counter them - defence innovations. Discussed both aspects with Minister of Interior Kondratovič, Minister of Economy & innovations Grikšas, and a group of innovators.